Southern  Branch 
of  the 

University  of  California 


Form  L   I 


Los  Angeles 

tiOIl 


LB 


LIBRARY  USE 
ONLY 


is  DT 


MENTAL  DISCIPLINE, 


WITH  REFERENCE  TO  THE 


ACQUISITION  AND  COMMUNICATION 


KNOWLEDGE, 

AND  TO   EDUCATION   GENERALLY, 


TO  WHICH  IS  APPENDED 


TOPICAL  COURSE  OF  THEOLOGICAL  STUDY 
Bg  Uct).  Dams  ID.  Clark,  2.IH. 


EIGHTH    THOUSAND. 


NEW    YORK: 
PHILLIPS    &     HUNT. 

CINCINNATI  : 
WALDEN    &    STOWE. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  tne  year  1847,  by 
LANE  <fe  TIPPETT,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  Southern  District  of  New-York. 


Stack 
Annex 


PREFACE. 


THE  history  of  the  little  volume,  here- 
with presented  to  the  public,  is  simply  this. 
While  engaged  some  years  since  in  aca- 
demical study  as  principal  of  a  seminary, 
the  subject  of  mental  discipline  often 
passed  in  review ;  and  for  the  most  part, 
the  principles  imbodied  in  this  treatise 
were  discussed  and  enforced  by  the  author 
in  connection  with  the  study  of  mental 
philosophy.  More  recently  the  work  of 
H.  F.  Burder,  on  "  Mental  Discipline,"  has 
fallen  into  his  hands.  That  work,  ~o  far 
as  he  knows,  is  riot  in  very  extensive  cir- 
culation in  this  country;  nor  is  it,  in  some 
of  its  parts,  precisely  adapted  to  general 
use  among  us,  being  "  addressed  particu- 
larly to  students  in  theology  and  young 
preachers."  among  whom  a  course  of  men- 
tal training  and  a  style  of  preparation  were 


4  PREFACE. 

used,  not  altogether  feasible  among  us. 
This  treatise  has  been  constructed  pretty 
much  on  the  same  plan  as  that  of  Burder ; 
and  in  the  first  and  second  parts,  will  bo 
found  most  that  was  valuable  in  his  work, 
accredited  to  him  simply  by  marks  of  quo- 
tation. These,  however,  form  but  a  small 
part  of  the  present  volume.  Some  few  of 
the  general  precepts  are  also  expressed  in 
his  language. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  author  has  every- 
where sought  for  "helps"  and  "authori- 
ties "  in  the  composition  of  this  work.     It 
would  have  been  less  labor,  and  required 
less  time  to  write  out  an  original  work, 
without  stopping  "  to  consult  authorities  ;" 
but  he  believed  his  pages  would  be  en-  C 
riched  by  the  observations  of  the  profound  *• 
thinkers  in  the  science  of  mind. 

As  to  the  manner  in  which  the  author  , 
has  executed  the  task  he  has  undertaken, 
he  leaves  to  those  who  may  study  his  work 
to  judge. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


INTRODUCTION. 


OBJECT  AND  PLAN  OF  THE  WORK. 

THE  author  of  this  treatise  has  en- 
tertained the  idea  that  a  few  hints 
on  the  subject  of  mental  discipline 
might  be  useful,  and  not  unaccepta- 
ble to  many  who  are  endeavoring 
to  make  intellectual  improvement. 
He  has  not  designed  any  philosophi- 
cal  analysis  of  the  powers  of  the 
mind,  preparatory  to  an  extended 
and  complete  system  of  mental  dis- 
cipline,  but  simply  to  offer  practical 
hints,  in  the  most  concise  and  simple 
form.  This  will  account  for  the  di- 
dactic style  which  has  been  employ- 
ed throughout  the  work,  as  being 
best  adapted  to  conciseness  and 


INTRODUCTION. 

clearness,  and  also  for  what  many 
will  deem  the  paucity  of  the  illustra- 
tions. With  the  same  object  in  view, 
the  author  has  been  obliged  to  dis- 
miss in  a  summary  manner  some 
topics  that  might  have  called  forth 
an  extended  discussion.  He  trusts, 
however,  that  the  style  will  be  found 
sufficiently  terse  for  profit,  and  the 
illustrations  sufficiently  copious  to 
render  the  work  useful  to  every  class 
and  grade  of  toilers  for  intellectual 
wealth. 

The  work  embraces  mental  dis- 
cipline with  reference  to  the  two 
great  practical  objects  of  all  educa- 
tion, namely,  the  acquisition  and  the 
communication  of  knowledge.  The 
first  is  preparatory  to  the  second,  and 
bhould  by  no  means  be  considered 
the  less  important  of  the  two.  Dr. 
Barrow  very  justly  remarks,  "that 
the  communication  of  truth  is  only 


INTRODUCTION. 


half  of  the  business  of  education,  and 
is  not  even  the  most  important  half." 
On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Locke,  Avith 
equal  explicitness,  asserts,  "The  im- 
provement of  the  understanding  is 
for  two  ends;  first,  our  own  increase 
of  knowledge ;  secondly,  to  enable  us 
to  deliver  that  knowledge  to  others. 
The  latter  of  these,  if  it  be  not  the 
chief  end  of  study  in  a  gentleman ; 
yet  it  is  at  least  equal  to  the  other, 
since  the  greatest  part  of  his  business 
and  usefulness  in  the  world,  is  by  the 
influence  of  what  he  says,  or  writes* 
to  others."  It  is  evident,  then,  that 
every  complete  system  of  education 
must  comprehend  these  two  objects, 
and  to  one  who  desires  to  benefit  his 
fellow-men,  in  any  public  profession, 
the  latter  is  as  important  as  the  former. 
The  discipline  of  mind  with  refer- 
ence to  "the  acquisition  of  know- 
ledge," consists  in  the  invigoration 


8  INTRODUCTION. 

of  our  intellectual  powers,  and  in  the 
formation  of  those  mental  habits  that 
will  facilitate  subsequent  attainments 
— enabling  the  mind  successfully  to 
grapple  with  and  overcome  difficul- 
ties, to  thread  the  intricacies  of  logic, 
to  discriminate  between  the  real  and 
the  sophistical  in  reasoning,  and  to 
obtain  clear,  precise,  and  compre- 
hensive notions.  Its  discipline  with 
reference  to  the  "  communication  of 
knowledge,"  implies  such  training  of 
our  faculties,  and  the  acquirement  of 
those  mental  aptitudes,  which  will 
enable  us  to  impart  the  knowledge 
we  have  obtained,  in  a  lucid,  concise, 
impressive,  and  effective  manner.  It 
might  appear,  on  first  sight,  to  some, 
that  those  attainments  would  neces- 
sarily accompany  each  other,  but  ob- 
servation clearly  shows  that  such  is 
not  the  fact.  \Large  acquisitions  of 
knowledge,  and  great  ability  to  ac- 


INTRODUCTION. 


quire,  are  not  unfrequently  found  in 
connection  with  feeble  powers  of 
communication.  yThere  is  not  less 
point  and  truth,  than  satire,  in  those 
lines  of  Young  :  — 


"What  numbers,  sheath'd  in  erudition,  lie 
Plunged  to  the  hilts  in  venerable  tomes, 
And  rusted  in,  who  might  have  borne  an  edge,       ^  -, 
And  play'd  a  sprightly  beam,  if  born  to  speech, 
If  born  blest  heirs  of  half  their  mother's  tongue  !" 

The  .  first  part  of  the  following 
treatise,  namely,  that  with  reference 
to  the  acquisition  of  knowledge,  is  of 
general  application  to  all  who  are 
desirous  of  cultivating  their  intellec- 
tual powers  —  whether  with  or  with- 
out reference  to  any  of  the  learned 
professions.  And  especially  will  it 
be  found  useful  to  the  student  in  the 
earlier  stages  of  his  academic  or  col- 
legiate course.  An  early  attention  to 
some  of  these  principles  may  not 
only  facilitate  such  in  their  studies, 
but  lead  them  to  the  acquisition  of 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

such  habits  as  will  beneficially  affect 
their  whole  mental  character. 

To  the  second  part,  or  that  which 
has  reference  to  the  communication  oj 
knowkdge,  it  was  necessary  to  give  a 
specific  direction.  It  has  be  en,  there- 
fore, composed  with  reference  to  stu- 
dents in  the  ministry,  though  most 
of  the  suggestions  are  equally  appli- 
cable to  all  whose  professional  call- 
ing imposes  on  them  the  exercise  of 
public  speaking.  The  great  design 
of  the  author  was  to  suggest  those 
mental  habits  that  would  give  effici- 
ency and  power  in  public  discourse. 

Part  third  relates  to  the  "diversi- 
ties of  mental  character,"  and  is  de- 
signed to  show  the  importance  of  a 
careful  observation  of  our  mental  sus- 
ceptibilities, and  a  well-directed  and 
energetic  use  of  them  in  order  to  the 
true  development  of  the  intellectual 
character.  The  varieties  of  mental 


INTRODUCTION.  11 

character,  from  whatever  cause  they 
may  result,  often  require  different 
modes  of  training  and  discipline. 
Hence  the  importance,  to  him  who 
would  have  his  powers  properly  bal- 
anced and  regulated,  of  carefully 
discriminating  the  various  grades  of 
intellectual  character,  and  especially 
of  determining  the  class  to  which  his 
own  mind  belongs,  that  he  may 
choose  an  appropriate  system  of  men- 
tal discipline.  It  was  the  design  of 
the  author,  in  this  part  of  his  treatise, 
to  present,  not  a  systemized  view,  but 
such  aspects  of  the  subject  as  should 
show  it  worthy  of  important  consi- 
deration in  reference  to  the  discipline 
of  rnind. 

To  the  work  has  been  appended 
a  "  Topical  Course  of  Theological 
Study,"  that  is,  a  list  of  the  leading 
doctrines  and  principles  in  a  com- 
plete course  of  Christian  theology 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

lias  been  made  out,  and  refeience 
made  under  each  topic  to  sources  of 
information  upon  that  special  sub- 
ject. The  list  of  authors  referred  to 
has  been  restricted,  so  as  to  bring 
the  number  of  books  it  would  re- 
quire within  narrow  limits.  This 
course  will  be  useful  to  the  theo- 
logical student,  both  by  assisting  to 
systemize  his  studies,  and  by  leading 
him  to  valuable  sources  of  informa- 
tion on  each  topic  of  inquiry. 

D.  W.  CLARK. 

Nao-Ycrk,  September,  1847. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION. — Design  and  plan  of  th«  work 
stated Page  5 

PART  I. 

Mental  discipline  with  reference  to  the  acquisition 
of  knowledge. 

SECT.  1. — Endeavor  to  impress  upon  your  minds 
the  importance  of  mental  discipline  .  .  21 

SECT.  2. — Endeavor  to  form  a  correct  estimate  of 
your  own  powers 23 

SECT.  3. — Let  not  your  estimate  of  the  importance 
of  the  various  branches  of  study  be  formed  mere- 
ly from  the  consideration  of  their  practical  bear- 
ings upon  the  business  of  life,  but  also  upon  their 
tendency  to  promote  the  discipline  and  improve- 
ment of  the  mind  .....  2(! 
I/  \/  SECT.  4. — Apply  the  mind  with  full  vigor,  and  with 
undivided  attention,  to  every  intellectual  pursuit 
in  which  you  engage  .  .  .  •  .  30 

SECT.  5. — Endeavor  to  acquire  clear  and  precise 
ideas  on  every  subject  of  investigation  you  under- 
take 36 


14  CONTENTS. 

SECT.  6. — Be  deterred  from  entering  upon  no  neces- 
sary branch  of  study,  merely  from  the  plea  that 
you  have  "  no  talent  for  it"  .  .  Page  41 

SKCT.  7. — Accustom  yourself  to  discriminate  care- 
fully between  sound  and  sophistical  reasoning,  and 
never  indulge  yourself  in  the  use  of  the  latter  43 

SECT.  8. — Never  let  the  fancy  and  imagination  pre- 
dominate over  the  understanding,  so  as  to  impair 
its  energy  and  darken  its  perception  .  46 

SECT.  9. — Cultivate  the  habit  of  strict  and  diligent 
investigation 50 

SECT.  10. — Endeavor  to  have  some  special  subject 
of  investigation  constantly  before  you,  to  stimulate 
your  exertions  .  .  .  .  .  .  52 

SECT.  11. — Guard  against  the  waste  of  time  in  fri- 
volous and  unimportant  pursuits  .  .  54 

SECT.  12. — Guard  against  in  indulging  in  vague 
mental  reveries 57 

SECT.  13. — Attend  to  but  one  thing  at  a  time,  and 
be  not  easily  diverted  from  any  subject  of  study 
you  have  undertaken  .  .  .  .  C2 

SECT.  14. — Let  your  plan  of  study,  including  the 
arrangement  and  distribution  of  your  time,  be 
judiciously  formed  and  prosecuted  with  the  utmost 
diligence  and  punctuality  ....  65 

SECT.  15. — Avail  yourself  of  external  helps,  only 
when  found  absolutely  necessary,  after  the  trial  of 
your  own  powers 68 

SECT.  16. — Expect  no  high  intellectual  attainments 
without  great  labor 69 

SECT.  17. — Be  not  only  willing,  but  desirous,  ta 


CONTENTS.  15 

have  every  defect  in  your  powers,  attainments,  or 
productions,    fully    and    explicitly   pointed    out 

Page  73 

SECT.  18. — Guard  against  those  mental  habits  which 
may  be  eventually,  though  imperceptibly,  preju- 
dicial, by  impairing  the  vigor  of  the  mind  or  of  the 
body  .......  76 

SECT.  19. — Guard  against  those  bodily  habits  which 
may  be  prejudicial  to  the  mind  by  impairing  the 
health  and  vigor  of  the  physical  frame  .  88 

SECT.  20. — Let  it  be  your  aim  to  arrive  at  general 
principles,  on  all  the  subjects  to  which  your  atten- 
tion is  directed  .....  98 

SECT.  21. — Be  not  satisfied  with  the  knowledge  you 
have  acquired  on  any  subject  of  investigation,  till 
you  can  express  the  result  of  your  inquiries  and 
reflections  in  your  own  words,  either  in  conversa- 
tion or  in  writing  .  .  .  .  .  100 

SECT.  22. — Let  the  love  of  truth  be  your  chief  sti- 
mulus to  the  pursuits  of  knowledge .  .  102 

SECT.  23. — When  your  plans  are  finished  in  deliber- 
ation, let  action  upon  them  be  immediately  com- 
menced   104 

SECT.  24. — Remember  that  mental  discipline  ac- 
quired, can  be  retained  and  improved  only  by 
continued  mental  activity  .  .  .  109 

SECT.  25. — Let  your  mind  be  impressed  with  the 
much  to  be  learned,  compared  with  the  little  you 
know  110 


16  CONTENTS. 

PART  H. 

Afental  discipline  with  reference  to  the  communication 
of  knowledge. 

SECT.  1. — Remember  that  the  communication  of 
knowledge  to  others,  is  one  of  tho  great  ends  of 
its  acquisition,  and  especially,  is  one  of  the  im- 
portant objects  of  the  ministerial  profession 

Page  113 

SECT.  2. — Impress  upon  your  mind  the  fact,  that  a 
high  order  of  delivery  is  no  less  the  result  of  effort 
and  acquisition,  than  is  a  high  order  of  intellect- 
ual attainment  in  any  other  respect  .  119 

SECT.  3. — As  a  Christian  minister,  consider  the 
close  connection  between  theological  study  and 
pulpit  eloquence  .  .  .  .  .  125 

SECT.  4. — Let  the  dignity  and  importance  of  your 
profession  deeply  impress  your  mind,  and  lead 
you  to  set  before  yourself  a  high  standard  of  min- 
isterial attainment  .  .  .  .  .  136 

SECT.  5. — Let  the  duties  of  your  profession  be  the 
absorbing  objects  of  your  study  and  interest  141 

SECT.  6. — Let  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  study  ac- 
company the  discharge  of  public  official  duties  145 

SECT.  7. — Consider  the  frequent  and  weighty  de- 
mands made  upon  your  mental  resources,  and  en- 
deavor to  meet  them  .  .  .  .  lf>9 

SECT.  8. — Consider  the  demands  made  by  the  diver- 
sity of  mental  character  in  your  congregations, 
and  endeavor  to  meet  them  .  .  .  162 


CONTENTS.  17 

SECT.  9. — Consider  the  demands  made  by  the  in- 
crease of  literary  and  scientific  knowledge  among 
all  classes  of  society,  and  endeavor  to  meet 
them Page  164 

SECT.  10. — Connect  mental  improvement  with  your 
preparation  for  the  pulpit  .  .  .  167 

SECT.  11. — Let  not  your  direct  preparation  for  tUe 
pulpit  be  superficial,  but  let  the  subject  be 
thoroughly  investigated  and  the  thoughts  metho- 
dically arranged  172 

SECT.  12. — Do  not  attach  too  much  importance  to 
artificial  rules  for  the  preparation  of  a  ser- 
mon   176 

SECT.  13. — Consult  the  best  authors  who  have  writ- 
ten upon  the  subject  you  propose  to  discuss  1 79 

SECT.  14. — Let  your  own  feelings  be  attuned  to 
harmony  with  the  spirit  and  sentiments  of  your 
subject 181 

SECT.  15. — Remember  that  the  intellectual  powers 
are  quickened  by  devotion  and  devotional  feel- 
ings   185 

SECT.  16. — In  order  to  communicate  knowledge 
with  effect,  be  impressed  with  the  importance  of 
being  able  to  express  yourself  with  self-possession, 
readiness,  clearness,  precision,  and  force  190 

SECT.  17. — Accustom  yourself  to  extemporaneous 
discourse  .  .  .  .  .  .  197 

SECT.  18. — Use  only  plain  language  .        .        219 

SECT.  19. — Consider  the  importance  of  a  good  de- 
livery     .......         225 

2 


18  CONTENTS. 

SECT.  20. — Consider  the  importance  of  a  good  elo- 
cution as  contributing  to  a  good  delivery 

Page  227 

SFCT.  21. — Consider  the  importance  of  manner  as 
contributing  to  a  good  delivery  .  .  234 

SECT.  22. — Study  the  best  living  models  of  de- 
livery   241 

SECT.  23. — Do  not  attach  too  much  importance  to 
artificial  rules  for  deliver}'  .  .  .  243 

SECT.  24. — Let  your  chief  solicitude  have  reference 
to  the  matter  rather  than  the  manner  .  24-i 

SECT.  25. — Accustom  yourself  to  the  frequent  exer- 
cise of  your  powers,  when  it  can  be  done  with 
suitable  preparation  .  .  .  .  248 

SECT.  26. — Write  out  a  discourse  frequently,  and 
occasionally  commit  one  to  memory,  that  your 
style  may  be  improved  and  your  memory  invigor- 
ated   250 

SECT.  27. — Keep  steadily  in  view  the  great  objects 
and  end  of  the  Christian  ministry  .  .  253 

SECT  28. — Ever  preserve  a  moral  uprightness  and 
independence  of  spirit  and  action  .  .  257 

PART  UI. 

Diversities  of  menial  character  considered  tcith  refer- 
ence  to  mental  discipline  and  education  generally. 

SECT.  1. — Diversities  of  intellectual  character     255 

SECT.  2. — We  should  carefully  note  these  diversities, 

and  ascertain  the  class  of  intellect  to  which  we 

belong 261 


CONTENTS.  19 

SECT.  3. — Classification  of  the  varieties  of  intellectu- 
al character  among  men  .        .       Page  263 

SECT.  4. — The  philosophical  variety  .        .        261 

SECT.  5. — The  "  matter  of  fact,"  or  circumstantial 
mind 266 

SECT.  6. — The  imaginative  mind         .        .        270 

SECT.  7. — Illustrations  of  this  subject  from  Dugald 
Stewart 273 

SECT.  8. — These  faculties  co-operate  together,  and 
mutually  assist  each  other        .        .        .        276 

SECT.  9. — Temperaments — Their  influence    upon 
the  intellectual  character — Remarks  of  Rauch 

281 

SECT.  10. — Non  omnes  omnia  possumus      .        285 

SECT.  11. — Application  of  the  preceding  principles 
to  the  discipline  of  mind .         .         .         .         287 

SECT.  12. — The  characteristics  of  a  well-disciplined 
mind 293 

APPENDIX. 

A  topical  course  of  theological  study,  with  refer- 
ence to  sources  of  information  on  each  topic    801 


MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 


PART  I. 

MENTAL  DISCIPLINE  WITH   REFERENCE   TO 
THE  ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE. 

SECTION  I. — Endeavor  to  impress  upon  your  mind  the  im- 
portance of  mental  discipline.. 

MENTAL  discipline  is  the  primary  object  of  the 
education  (educo)  of  the  intellectual  faculties.  It  is 
not  so  much  its  object  to  fill  up,  as  to  draw  out ;  not  so 
much  to  store  the  mind  with  ideas,  as  to  develop  its 
powers.  Mr.  Locke  has  somewhere  remarked,  "  that 
a  great  and  paramount  object  of  our  present  investi- 
gations is,  to  prepare  the  mind  for  future  investiga- 
tions." And  any  system  is  not  so  much  to  be  valued 
for  the  number  and  variety  of  ideas  it  imparts,  as  for 
the  symmetrical  development  of  our  mental  powers 
which  it  produces.  What  Seneca  says  of  the  body, 
has  not  an  inapt  application  to  the  mind, — Fastidi- 
tntis  stomachi  multa  degustare,  quce  ubi  varia  sunt  et 
diversa,  viquinant,  non  alunt.  A  mind  overloaded 
with  ideas,  yet  wanting  in  mental  discipline,  is  not 
unlike  the  stomach,  whose  digestive  organs  are  im- 
paired, but  which  is  overloaded  with  nutricious 
aliment 


22  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

The  attainment  of  a  proper  discipline  of  the  intel- 
lectual powers  should  be  a  direct  object  of  pursuit 
with  the  student*  In  laying  his  plans,  and  selecting 
his  course  of  study,  this  ought  to  be  a  preponderating 
motive  to  influence  him.  As  it  is,  the  object  is  too 
often  the  simple  attainment  of  so  much  knowledge, 
rather  than  so  much  power.  It  may  be  objected  that 
the  two  go  hand  in  hand,  and  necessarily  accompany 
each  other.  Here,  we  may  safely  admit,  that  our 
systems  of  liberal  education  have  been  so  wisely  ad- 
justed, that  while  a  specific  amount  of  knowledge  is 
required  as  a  condition  of  graduation  to  literary 
honors,  the  development  of  the  intellectual  powers  is 
also  sought  as  a  paramount  object.  It  is  not  distinctly 
stated  to  the  student,  "  You  must  have  so  much 
mind ;"  but  it  is  presumed  that  the  acquisition  of  so 
much  knowledge  will  give  so  much  mental  capacity 
and  strength.  How  often  is  this  expectation  dis- 
appointed !  What  multitudes  go  out  from  our 
schools  of  learning,  crammed,  but  not  educated ;  and 
how  many  "  wandering  stars  "  in  the  firmament  of 
intellect  discover  to  us  that  great  acquisitions  of 
knowledge  are  not  necessarily  accompanied  by  a  sym- 
metrically developed  and  well-regulated  intellect ! 

Let  him,  then,  who  enters  upon  a  course  of  men- 
tal training,  say  within  himself,  "  I  must  have  men- 
tal power,  if  I  obtain  nothing  else."  With  this, 
knowledge  can  be  acquired  for  use ;  without  it, 
knowledge  acquired,  cannot  be  used.  With  this  ob- 

*  The  author  has  here,  and  in  other  [ifts  of  this  treatise 
used  this  term  in  its  widest  sense. 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  23 

ject  before  him — armed  and  stimulated  by  this  deter- 
mination, lie  will  tire  over  no  study.  No  cui  bono  ? 
will  drop  from  his  lips,  as  he  pores  over  classic  pages, 
or  threads  the  intricacies  of  metaphysical  or  mathe- 
matical science.  Instead  of  being  led  along  hood- 
winked to  the  acquisition  of  knowledge,  of  whose 
practical  use  he  can  form  no  conception,  the  direct 
aim  and  practical  end  of  these  studies  will  become 
apparent,  and  stimulate  him  to  renewed  exertions  to 
reach  the  goal.  , 

SECTION  II. — Endeavor  to  farm  a  correct  estimate  of  your 
(~\  own  powers. 

Every  individual,  undoubtedly,  forms  some  kind 
of  an  opinion  of  his  own  mental  powers  and  capaci- 
ties. "  His  opinion  may  have  been  formed  in  very 
early  life,  and  may  have  been  modified  by  frequent 
comparisons  between  himself  and  his  associates,  as 
•well  as  by  the  commendations  or  animadversions  of 
his  superiors.  But,  after  all,  this  estimate  may  be 
exceedingly  incorrect.  It  may  be  by  far  too  favor- 
able ;  or  it  may  be  by  far  too  unfavorable.  In  eithei 
case  the  influence  will  be  prejudicial, 

"  If  the  estimate  be  too  favorable,  not  a  few  evils 
may  be  generated,  of  which  the  tendency  will  be  to 
obstruct,  intellectual  progress.  It  may  be  expected 
to  produce  that  pride  and  complacency,  which  will 
conceal  from  the  individual  the  defects  of  his  capaci- 
ties and  attainments,  enfeeble  the  stimulus  to  exer- 
ion,  and  render  him  impatient,  if  not  indignant, 
hen  deficiencies  are  exposed  of  which  he  was  not 


24  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

aware,  and  errors  which  he  is  not  prepared  to  ac- 
knowledge." It  may  also  induce  a  person  to  enter 
prematurely  on  a  species  of  intellectual  effort  to 
which  his  mental  energy  is  inadequate.  Mr.  Locke, 
after  affirming  that  the  faculties  of  the  mind  are  im- 
^proved  by  exercise,  says,  "Yet  they  must  not  be 
p  at  to  a  stress  beyond  their  strength.  Quid  valeani 
humeri,  quid  ferre  recusent,  must  be  made  the  mea- 
sure of  every  one's  understanding,  who  has  a  desire, 
not  only  to  perform  well,  but  to  keep  up  the  vigor  of 
his  faculties.  The  mind  being  engaged  in  a  task 
beyond  its  strength,  like  the  body,  strained  by  lifting 
at  a  weight,  too  heavy,  has  often  its  force  broken,  and 
thereby  gets  an  unaptness  or  an  aversion  to  any 
vigorous  attempt  ever  after.  The  understanding 
should  be  brought  to  knotty  and  difficult  parts  of 
knowledge  that  try  the  strength  of  thought,  and  a 
full  bent  of  mind,  by  insensible  degrees."  Ferret 
taurum  qui  tulit  vitulam.  The  ardent  and  self-con- 
fident, presuming  on  energies  they  do  not  possess, 
and  impatient  at  the  slow  progress  of  disciplinary 
improvement,  rush  forward  into  departments  of  sci- 
ence for  which  they  are  unprepared.  Here  they  are 
baffled  with  unexpected  difficulties;  disappointment 
succeeds  to  the  ardor  of  self-confidence  ;  and  in  the 
end  they  retire  from  the  pursuits  of  knowledge  in 
disgust 

If  the  estimate  be  too  unfavorable,  the  effects  are  of 
an  opposite  character,  but  equally  injurious  to  intel- 
lectual progress.  Such  an  estimate  may  excite  hu- 
mility and  modesty,  and  thus  exert  a  beneficial  moral 


ACQUISITION    OF   KNOWLEDGE.  25 

nfluence  ;  but  it  unquestionably  tends  to  depress  the 
mind,  and  deter  the  individual  from  engaging  in 
those  intellectual  enterprises  that  might  be  prose- 
cuted with  success.  Those  who  have  been  most  dis- 
tinguished for  intellectual  power,  as  well  as  for  the 
success  that  has  crowned  their  efforts  in  the  various 
departments  of  human  learning,  have  possessed,  ill 
general,  a  characteristic  modest  appreciation  of  their 
own  powers.  But,  along  with  this  characteristic  mo- 
desty, they  have  also  possessed  an  invincible  deter- 
mination of  spirit  and  an  indomitable  energy  of  ac- 
tion, that  stood  appalled  at  no  obstacle,  and  shrunk 
from  no  labor.  "  Many  pursuits  appear,  on  a  distant 
and  indistinct  survey,  to  be  environed  by  insur- 
mountable obstacles ;  whereas,  on  a  nearer  approach, 
the  difficulties  become  less  formidable,  and  soon  en- 
tirely disappear.  Many  of  the  early  attempts  which 
mental  discipline  prescribes  are  onerous  and  irk- 
some to  those  who  are  only  beginning  to  cultivate 
habits  of  intellectual  exertion  ;  and  the  minds  of 
some  who  are  not  deficient  in  ability,  may  be  ready 
to  shrink  from  a  task  to  which  they  imagine  them- 
selves unequal.  Let  them  guard  against  such  an  es- 
timate of  their  own  powers  as  would  discourage  vig- 
orous exertion,  and  impede  the  march  of  intellect,  of 
which  it  may  be  said  with  undoubting  confidence — 
'  vires  acquirit  eundo.'  " 

We  have  here  spoken  of  our  settled  judgments  con- 
cerning our  powers  ;  and  not  of  those  hasty  and  va- 
cillating notions  of  them,  that  are  passing  more  or 
less  in  the  minds  of  all.  A  temporary  success,  es« 


26  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

pecially  if  it  be  unexpected,  tas  a  tendency  to  exalt 
our  notions  of  our  powers  ;  on  the  other  hand,  a  tem- 
porary want  of  success  tends  to  depress  them. 
With  most  persons,  the  alternations  of  success  and 
disappointment  in  a  measure  counteract  the  effects 
of  each  other  ;  but  when  either  are  long  continued, 
the  notions  they  produce  are  apt  to  acquire  the  per- 
manency of  settled  conviction.  Hence  it  is,  thatfa 
few  failures  completely  dishearten  the  timid ;  and,  on 
the  other  hand,  a  few  casual  instances  of  success  be- 
get in  the  minds  of  the  weak  and  vain  the  abiding 
conviction  that  they  "  possess  a  genius."  fit  is  diffi- 
cult to  determine  whether  the  imbecility/of  the  one, 
or  the  pedantic  vanity  of  the  other,  should  most  ex- 
cite our  commiseration. 

SECTION  III. — Let  not  your  estimate  of  the  importance  of 
the  various  branches  of  study  be  formed  merely  from  the 
consideration  of  their  practical  bearings  upon  the  business 
of  life,  but  also  from  their  tendency  to  promote  ilie  discipline 
and  improvement  of  the  mind. 

"  Life  is  short,  art  is  long,"  is  a  homely,  but  ex- 
pressive adage.  The  departments  of  human  learn- 
ing are  so  numerous  and  comprehensive,  the  power? 
of  the  mind  are  so  limited,  and  the  time  to  be  de- 
voted to  literary  and  scientific  pursuits  is  at  longest 
so  short,  that  a  selection  is  absolutely  necessary. 
When  circumstances  will  admit  of  but  a  limited 
course  of  study,  this  selection  should  be  eminently 
practical,  and  have  a  direct  reference  to  the  business 
of  life.  It  is  folly  for  those  to  be  dabbling  in  ancient 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  27 

languages,  who  have  allotted  to  their  studies  hardly 
sufficient  time  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  their  mo- 
ther tongue ;  or  to  skim  over  the  higher  department? 
of  science,  when  they  have  hardly  time- to  become 
well  grounded  in  elemental  English.  But  even 
in  this  hurried,  practical  education,  if  education  it 
can  be  called,  an  ultimate  reference  should  be  had  to 
the  invigoration  of  the  mental  powers.  "  All  educa- 
tion," says  Dr.  Labaree,  "  may  be  regarded  as  pi-ac- 
tical ;  it  dims  to  qualify  students  for  the  various 
duties  of  life  ;  and  every  branch  of  study  is  supposed 
to  have  a  bearing,  more  or  less  directly,  upon  this 
point.  Some  studies,  however,  are  intended  mainly 
for  mental  discipline,  while  the  knowledge  acquired 
cannot  be  applied  to  the  ordinary  purposes  of  life. 
The  higher  departments  of  mathematics,  for  instance, 
would  be  of  little  practical  service  to  the  farmer,  but 
the  common  principles  of  arithmetic  might  be  em- 
ployed by  him  in  the  transactions  of  every-day  busi- 
ness. The  study  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages 
is  happily  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of  the  mental 
faculties  generally ;  but  these  languages  are  not  now 
the  medium  for  communicating  thought,  or  of  ac- 
quiring useful  information,  and  therefore  a  know- 
ledge of  them  does  not  necessarily  constitute  a  part 
of  practical  education.  Classical  study,  we  believe, 
is  essential  to  finished  scholarship ;  but  if  a  youth  can 
devote  no  mere  than  two,  three,  or  four  years,  to 
academical  "-Indies,  we  are  quite  sure  that  the  other 
branches  of  learning  have  stronger  claims  upon  his 
attention.  There  are  departments  of  science,  whicll 


2?  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

will  develop  and  discipline  the  intellectual  faculties, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  furnish  the  vnind  with  gratify- 
ing and  useful  information." 

But  when  circumstances  admit  of  an  extended 
course  of  study ;  especially  when  the  individual  de- 
signs to  engage  in  the  pursuits  of  literature,  or  to 
enter  one  of  the  learned  professions ;  at  least,  in  the 
earlier  stages  of  his  course,  the  development  of  the 
intellectual  powers  should  be  the  primary  object  of 
attention.  In  education  the  ends  are  continually 
mistaken  for  the  means ;  and  it  is  almost  universally 
forgotten  that  elementary  education  is  far  less  in- 
tended to  qualify  for  any  specific  pursuit,  than  to 
give  development  and  energy  to  the  mental  powers. 
"  In  a  liberal  education  there  is  much  that  is  pre- 
liminary. No  superstructure  should  be  attempted 
till  the  basis  be  rendered  broad  and  firm.  The  first 
object  of  solicitude  should  be  to  give  vigor  and  ex- 
pansion to  the  faculties  of  the  mind ;  and  whatever 
pursuits  are  best  adapted  to  secure  this  end  should 
be  selected  by  the  instructor ;  and  by  the  learner 
should  be  regarded  with  interest,  and  prosecuted 
with  ardor.  Let  him  not  imagine  that  they  are  of 
inferior  importance,  because  he  cannot  discern  any 
direct  connection  between  them  and  the  leading  ob- 
ject of  his  professional  career.  Let  him  rather  in- 
quire into  their  tendency  to  subject  his  mind  to  a 
salutary  discipline,  and  to  form  those  habits  of 
thought  and  study  by  which  his  future  progress  miiy 
be  directed  or  facilitated.  The  student  in  theology, 
for  example,  may  perhaps  entertain  doubts  with  re- 


ACQUISITION    OF   KNOWLEDGE.  29 

gard  to  the  utility  of  studies  in  mathematics,  or  in  tlt£\ 
philosophy  of  the  human  mind;  yet  it  is  not  difficult  to 
exhibit  the  direct  and  powerful  tendency  of  these 
pursuits  to  generate  habits  of  incalculable  value  to 
those  who,  in  the  discharge  of  their  professional  en- 
gagements, will  find  occasion  for  the  exercise  of  ac- 
curate discrimination,  and  the  power  ol  conclusive 
reasoning.  Could  it  even  be  shown  that  the  researches 
of  mathematical  science  and  of  mental  philosophy 
would  impart  but  little  information  of  real  value,  still 
it  might  be  contended,  that  the  advantages  accruing 
from  the  very  efforts  of  intellectual  energy  which 
they  call  forth  must  secure  to  the  student  an  ample 
remuneration  for  his  expenditure  of  time  and  labor." 
The  above  views,  expressed  b^  Mr.Burder,  are  thus 
confirmed  by  Dr.  Thomas  Brown  : — "  In  some  former 
severe  discussions,  like  the  present,  I  endeavored  to 
extract  for  you  some  little  consolation  from  that 
very  fortitude  of  attention  which  the  discussion  re- 
quired,— pointing  out  to  you  the  advantages  of  ques- 
tions of  this  kind,  in  training  the  mind  to  those  habits 
cf  serious  thought  and  patient  investigation,  which, 
considered  in  their  primary  relation  to  the  intellec- 
tual character,  are  of  infinitely  greater  importance 
than  the  instruction  which  the  question  itself  may 
afford.  '  Generosos  labor  nutrit  !'  In  the  discipline 
of  reason,  as  in  the  training  of  the  athlete,  it  is  not 
for  a  single  victory  which  it  may  give  to  the  youth- 
ful champion  that  the  combat  is  to  be  valued,  but  for 
that  knitting  of  the  joints  and  hardening  of  the 
mupcles, — that  quickening  of  the  eyes  and  collected- 


O 


30  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

ness  of  effort,  which  is  forming  for  the  struggles  of 
more  illustrious  fields." 

SECTION  IV.-—  Endeavor  to  acquire  the  habit  of  applying 
the  mind,  with  full  vigor  and  undivided  attention,  *o 
every  intellectual  pursuit  in  which  you  engage. 

Intellectual  habits  detrimental  to  any  worthy  ac- 
quirement are  often  engendered  by  a  cait'ess  exer- 
cise of  attention.  "  If  there  can  be  anything,"  says 
Dr.  Reid,  "  in  matters  of  mere  judgment  and  reason- 
ing, worthy  the  name  of  genius,  it  seems  to  consist 
chiefly  in  being  able  to  give  that  attention  to  the  sub- 
ject which  keeps  it  steady  in  the  mind  till  we  can 
survey  it  accurately  on  all  sides."  The  vigor  of  in- 
tellectual power,  as  well  as  the  actual  knowledge  we 
may  obtain,  must  depend  in  a  great  measure  upon 
our  habits  of  attention.  Sitting  with  a  book  before 
you,  or  dozing  over  one  with  dreamy  indifference,  is 
not  stwly.  Neither  are  those  oft  intermitted  efforts, 
that  are  made  by  some,  worthy  of  the  name  of  study. 
"  Would  you  deserve  to  be  called  a  student,"  says 
one,  "  you  must  learn  to  abstract  your  mind  from 
everything  else,  and  fasten  it  upon  the  subject  be- 
fore you.  If  it  wander,  bring  it  back,  and  chain  it  to 
the  subject  again."  Continue  thus,  till  you  have 
fully  formed  the  habit  of  applying  the  whole  attention 
to  whatever  subject  of  investigation  you  undertake, 
with  fixed  and  intense  thour/ht.  This  one  habit  is  of 
more  value  to  him  who  would  extend  his  researches 
and  enlarge  the  dominion  of  his  thought,  than  the 
possession  of  a  superficial  knowledge  of  half-a-dozen 


ACQUISITION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.  31 

languages  without  it.    The  mighty  intellects  of  every 
age  have  been  distinguished  for  this  power.     It  is 
said  of  Seneca,  that,  in  the  midst  of  the  bustle  of  {in>N/ 
encampment,  he  fell  into  a  profound  meditation,  and/  \ 
stood,  with  the  immobility  of  a  statue,  from  one  morn- 
ing till  the  sun  rose  on  the  next.     The  celebrated 
mathematician   of  Syracuse,   Archimedes,   was   so 
absorbed   by  his    mathematical   researches   as   not 
to  be  disturbed  by  the  invasion   and  capture  of 
the  city  by  a  hostile  army.     Cardan  is  also  said  to 
have  brought  himself  into  such  a  state  as  to  be  in- 
sensible to  all  impressions.     When  the  servant  that 
attended  upon  Locke,  some  hours  after  the  usual          . 
time  for  his  taking  his  meal,  had  uncovered  the  dish,     ^£ 
he  would  often  find  the  food  he  had  prepared  un-    / 
touched.     To  the  same  point  is  the  expressive  decla- 
ration of   Sir    Isaac   Newton   concerning   himself,  4 
"  that  whatever  service  he  had  done  the  public,  w« 
not  owing  to  any  extraordinary  sagacity,  but  solelj 
to  industry  and  patient  thought." 

This  concentration  of  the  intellectual  power  is  not 
to  be  confounded  with  that  state  of  mind  usually  de- 
nominated reverie.  The  latter  results  from  an  in- 
ability to  fix  the  attention  strongly  upon  any  out 
subject,  and  is,  in  fact,  composed  of  fugitive  and  dis 
connected  thoughts ;  while  the  former,  even  when  ex- 
erted to  such  a  degree  as  to  produce  absence  of 
mind,  consists  in  the  concentration  of  the  whole  in- 
tellectual energy  upon  one  point,  to  the  exclusion 
of  every  other  subject.  This  will  account  for  the 
absent-mindedness  which  has  often  characterized 


32  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

profound  thinkers.  "  Indeed,"  says  the  author  of 
The  Philosophy  of  Sleep,  "  all  studies  which  require 
deep  thinking  are  apt  to  induce  mental  absence,  in 
consequence  of  the  sensorial  power  being  drained 
from  the  general  circumference  of  the  mind,  and  di- 
rected strongly  to  a  certain  point.  This  draining, 
while  it  invigorates  the  organ  of  the  particular  fa- 
culty toward  which  the  sensorial  energy  is  concen- 
trated, leaves  the  others  in  an  inanimate  state,  and 
incapacitates  them  from  performing  their  proper 
functions ;  hence,  persons  subject  to  abstraction  are 
apt  to  commit  a  thousand  ludicrous  errors."  New- 
ton, in  a  fit  of  absence,  made  a  tobacco-stopper  of  a 
lady's  finger.  The  following  well-dnnvn  portraiture 
is  much  to  the  point : — "  It  is  a  case  of  one  of  the 
most  profound  and  clear-headed  philosophical  think- 
ers, and  one  of  the  most  amiable  of  men,  becoming 
so  completely  absorbed  in  his  own  reflections,  as  to 
lose  the.  perception  of  external  things,  and  almost 
that  of  his  own  identity  and  existence.  There  are 
few  that  have  paid  any  attention  to  the  finance  of 
the  English  nation,  but  must  have  heard  of  Dr.  Ro- 
bert Hamilton's  '  Essay  on  the  National  Debt,'  which 
fell  on  both  houses  of  parliament  like  a  bomb-shell, 
or,  rather,  which  rose  and  illuminated  their  darkness 
like  an  orient  sun.  There  are  also  other  writings 
of  his,  in  which  one  knows  not  which  to  admire 
most — the  profound  and  accurate  science,  the  beau- 
tiful arrangement,  or  the  clear  expression.  Yet,  in 
public,  the  man  was  a  shadow ;  pulled  off"  his  hat  to 
hi?  own  wife  in  the  streets,  and  apologized  for  not 


ACQUISITION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.  33 

kaviug  the  pleasure  of  her  acquaintance ;  went  to 
his  classes  in  the  college,  on  the  dark  mornings,  with 
one  of  her  white  stockings  on  one  leg,  and  one  of  his 
black  ones  on  the  other;  often  spent  the  whole  time 
of  the  meeting  in  moving  from  the  table  the  hats  of 
the  students,  which  they  as  constantly  replaced; 
sometimes  invited  them  to  call  upon  him,  and  then 
fined  them  for  coming  to  insult  him.  He  would  run 
against  a  cow  in  the  road,  turn  round,  beg  her  par- 
don, '  madam,'  and  hope  she  was  not  hurt.  At  other 
times  he  would  run  against  posts,  and  chide  them  for 
not  getting  out  of  his  way ;  and  yet  his  conversation, 
at  the  same  time,  if  anybody  happened  to  be  with 
him,  was  perfect  logic  and  perfect  music."  — ' 

The  above  are  extreme  cases  of  mental  abstrac- 
tion, and  the  latter  especially  indicates  an  habitual 
state  of  mind  hardly  to  be  coveted.  But  the  .exer- 
cise of  intellectual  power,  with  reference  to  one  point 
or  subject,  implies  abstraction  and  concentration ; 
and  without  these  there  can  be  no  great  exercise  of 
intellectual  power.  Dr.  Macnish,  after  stating  that 
''the  Edinburgh  phrenologists "  contend  that  those 
who  have  a  large  development  of  the  organ  of  con- 
r>entrativeness  are  peculiarly  liable  to  fits  of  abstrac- 
tion, says.  "A  good  endowment  of  the  power  in 
question  (concentrativeness)  adds  very  much  to  the 
efficiency  of  the  intellect,  by  enabling  its  possessor  to 
apply  his  mind  continuously  to  a  particular  investiga- 
tion, unannoyed  by  the  intrusion  of  foreign  and  ir- 
relevant ideas.  It  seems  to  have  been  very  strong 
in  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  whose  liability  to  abstraction 
3 


54  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

has  already  been  alluded  to.  '  During  the  two 
years,'  says  Biot,  '  which  he  spent  in  preparing  and 
developing  his  immortal  work,  Philosophce  Natumlis 
Principia  Mathematica,  he  lived  only  to  calculate  and 
tlink.  Oftentimes,  lost  in  the  contemplation  of  these 
grand  objects,  he  acted  unconsciously ;  his  thoughts 
appearing  to  preserve  no  connection  with  the  ordi- 
nary affairs  of  life.  It  is  said,  that  frequently,  on 
rising  in  the  morning,  he  would  sit  down  on  his  bed- 
side, arrested  by  some  new  conception,  and  would 
remain  for  hours  together  engaged  in  tracing  it  out, 
without  dressing  himself!' " 

This  intense  mental  exertion,  in  which  the  mind 
is  applied  with  full  vigor  and  undivided  attention  to 
one  definite  subject,  is  labor ;  and  the  undisciplined 
mind  will  often  shrink  from  it, — nay,  is  often  utterly 
incompetent  to  it  for  any  length  of  time.  We  are 
no  less  inclined  to  intellectual  than  bodily  laziness. 
The  formation  of  energetic  business  habits  requires 
firm  determination  and  persevering  action.  Before 
they  are  formed,  the  path  of  such  a  one  will  often 
seem  rugged  and  uncomfortable  to  himself;  but, 
when  once  formed,  "  they  Avill  constitute  his  life." 
Just  so  in  the  formation  of  our  intellectual  habits. 
The  mind  will  at  first  shrink  from  the  fatiguing 
drudgery  imposed  upon  it;  but,  by  insensible  de- 
grees, its  powers  of  action  and  of  endurance  will  be- 
come so  strengthened,  and  its  habits  so  confirmed, 
that  it  will  greatly  delight  in  that  which  was  at  first 
disagreeable  and  irksome.  One  great  obstacle  to 
the  formation  of  these  habits  by  the  student,  is  the 


ACQUISITION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.  35 

—fiuence  of  "  wandering  thoughts."  These  thoughts 
ore  constantly  intruding  themselves  upon  his  studies; 
they  are  suggested  by  surrounding  objects,  or  by 
circumstances  deeply  interesting  to  us,  or  by  train? 
of  thought  with  which  the  mind  has  become  familiar; 
and,  Avhen  once  repelled,  they  recur  again,  and  ob- 
sfinately  intrude  upon  the  attention.  They  have 
perhaps  a  stronger  hold  upon  the  feelings  or  passions 
than  the  subject  of  study  prescribed ;  they  are  per- 
haps more  pleasing  to  the  imagination,  and  fancy 
pleads  for  a  little  indulgence.  Thus,  a  contest  is 
going  on  between  the  student  and  his  "wandering 
thoughts;"  and,  after  awhile,  he  finds  the  mind  fa- 
tigued with  its  exertion,  while,  at  the  same  time,  lit- 
tle or  no  advancement  has  been  made  in  the  subject 
of  study :  "  A  bootless  effort,"  he  exclaims,  while  he 
lays  aside  his  book  in  disappointment  and  disgust. 
Not  so  fast,  my  young  friend;  the  encounter  in 
which  you  have  been  engaged  is  not  so  bootless  as 
you  imagine  ;  the  very  exertion  you  have  put  forth 
has  but  strengthened  your  powers  for  a  second  and 
more  successful  conflict.  Mr.  Stewart  thus  explains 
the  ca  ise  of  our  dissatisfaction  and  weariness : — "  It 
ia  not  an  exclusive  and  steady  attention  that  we  give 
to  the  object,  but  we  are  losing  sight  of  it  and  re- 
curring to  it  every  instant ;  and  the  painful  efforts  of 
which  we  are  conscious,  are  not  (as  we  are  apt  t& 
suppose  them  to  be)  efforts  of  uncommon  attention, 
Lnt  unsuccessful  attempts  to  keep  the  mind  steady 
to  its  object,  and  to  exclude  the  extraneous  .ideas 
which  are  from  time  to  time  soliciting  its  no'  ice ." 


36  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

Every  battle  gained  in  this  isjnflict  aids  to  insure 
the  final  triumph;  every  field  surrendered,  without 
a  vigorous  defense,  tends  to  bring  about  final  defeat 
"Let,  then,  the  mind  of  the  student  be  deeply 
impressed  with  the  conviction  of  the  importance  of 
this  habit,  and  of  the  practicability  of  making  great 
and  indefinite  progress  in  acquiring  the  power  of 
fixed  attention.  Let  him  resolve  that  he  will  daily 
make  the  most  vigorous  efforts;  that  he  will  sum- 
mon the  full  energy  of  his  mind,  whenever  he  is  en- 
gaged in  study ;  and  that  he  will  never  tolerate  in 
himself  a  habit  of  languid  and  intermitting  applica- 
tion. Let  him  be  assured  that  if  he  ever  allows  this, 
he  not  only  loses  his  time,  and  frustrates  his  imme- 
diate object,  but  that  he  injures  the  tone  and  im- 
pairs the  vigor  of  his  mind.  '  AVhen  you  remit  your 
attention,'  said  Epictetus, '  do  not  fancy  that  you  can 
recover  it  when  you  please;  but  remember  that  by 
the  fault  of  to-day  you  will  be  in  a  worse  state  to- 
morrow, and  a  habit  of  not  attending  is  induced 
Why  should  you  not  preserve  a  constant  attention ': 
there  is  no  concern  in  life  in  which  attention  is  not 
required.' " 

SECTION  V. — Endeavor  uniformly  to  acrfiirre  dear  and 
precise  ideas  on  every  subject  of  investigation  you  undir- 
take. 

Few  mental  habits  are  of  more  consequence  in 
the  formation  of  the  intellectual  character,  or  exert 
a  more  decisive  influence  upon  the  reputation  and 
standing  of  an  individual  in  society,  than  t'.i's.  It 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  37 

<s  opposed  to,  and  will  be  a  preventive  of,  the  habit 
of  superficial  observation  and  reflection,  into  which 
the  great  majority  of  men  fall ;  it  will  lead,  even 
when;  few  of  the  advantages  of  early  culture  have 
been  enjoyed,  to  the  attainment  of  critical,  exten- 
sive, and  valuable  knowledge;  and  it  will  secure  for 
the  individual  the  profound  respect  of  his  fellow- 
men,  and  enable  him  to  exert  a  wide  influence  over 
them.  In  every  community  we  shall  find  men  whose 
judgment  is  regarded  with  deference  by  their  neigh- 
bors ;  they  are  not  always  to  be  found  among  those 
who  have  enjoyed  the  greatest  advantages  of  wealth 
or  education  ;  sometimes  it  is  far  otherwise.  They 
are  the  men  who  are  sought  in  all  matters  of  contro- 
versy. If  we  carefully  analyze  the  mental  charac- 
ter of  this  class  of  men,  we  shall  find  that,  in  addition 
to  moral  integrity,  one  prominent  feature  of  their 
character  will  be  the  habit  we  have  here  enjoined. 
Among  the  great  luminaries  of  learning,  especially 
those  who  have  struck  out  new  paths  and  explored 
new  fields  of  knowledge,  this  has  ever  been  a  cha- 
racteristic aquirement,  not  endowment,  as  too  many 
suppose.  Newton  counted  nothing  accomplished  till 
the  truth  sought  "  stood  out  in  a  clear  and  steady 
light."  To  this  power  are  to  be  attributed,  in  a 
great  measure,  the  clearness  and  simplicity  which 
characterize  the  theological  writings  of  Dr.  Dwight. 
It  is  said  of  Dr.  Emory,  for  some  time  a  distinguished 
member  of  the  Baltimore  Conference,  and  afterward 
one  of  the  bishops  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  that  when  a 
subject,  by  the  heat  and  confusion  of  debate,  had 


38  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

become  so  complicated  that  the  members  hardly 
knew  what  to  do  with  it,  the  doctor  usually  came  to 
their  relief.  Sometimes  he  attempted  no  new  arg'i- 
*nent,  but  simply  disentangled  and  classified  those 
already  offered;  so  that  each  one  could  see  for 
himself  the  bearing  upon  the  precise  point  at  is- 
sue ;  and,  when  he  closed,  the  conference  were 
generally  ready  to  "  vote." 

To  the  attainment  of  clear  and  precise  ideas, 
habits  of  careful  analysis  are  necessary.  A  critical 
examination  of  the  parts  is  necessary  to  the  compre- 
hension of  the  whole.  To  accomplish  this  the  parts 
must  be  disentangled  from  the  mass,  and  each  par- 
ticular examined  by  itself.  Mr.  Locke  says,  "  The 
greatest  part  of  true  knowledge  lies  in  a  distinct 
perception  of  things  in  themselves  distinct.  And 
some  men  give  more  clear  light  and  knowledge  by 
the  fair,  distinct  statement  of  a  question,  than  others 
by  taking  it  in  gross,  whole  hours  together.  In  this 
they  who  state  a  question  do  no  more,  but  separate 
and  disentangle  the  parts  of  it  from  one  another, 
and  lay  them,  when  so  disentangled,  in  their  due 
order.  This  often,  without  any  more  ado,  resolves 
the  doubt,  and  shows  the  mind  where  the  truth  lies 
In  learning  anything,  as  little  should  be  proposed  to 
the  mind  at  once  as  possible ;  and  that  being  under- 
stood, and  fully  mastered,  proceed  to  the  next  ad- 
joining part,  yet  unknown,  simple,  un  perplexed 
proposition,  belonging  to  the  matter  in  hand,  and 
tending  to  the  clearing  what  is  principally  designed.'' 
The  course  here  prescribed  will  not  only  tend  ta 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  39 

clear  and  accurate  knowledge,  but  will  also  produce 
independence  of  thought.  It  will  free  the  mind 
froai  a  slavish  thralldom  to  the  opinions  of  others. 
It  will  enable  the  individual  to  be,  as  the  poet  de- 
scribes himself,  "  Nullius  addictus  jurare  in  verba 
mar/istri."  Alas,  how  many  stem  to  be  satisfied  with 
being  servile  plodders  in  the  track  of  others — mere 
children  in  leading  strings  !  They  are  satisfied  with 
a  knowledge  of  the  books  they  read,  rather  than  of 
the  subjects  of  which  the  books  treat ;  and  ipse  dixit 
is  their  highest  authority.  The  progress  of  the  mind 
that  investigates  thoroughly  will,  at  the  outset,  be 
slow ;  and  the  individual  may  acquire  the  reputation 
of  dullness  among  his  companions,  and  with  indis- 
criminating  teachers ;  but  perseverance  will  insure 
to  him  ultimate  success. 

Never  be  satisfied,  then,  with  looking  at  the  mere 
surface  of  things;  but  push  your  inquiries  to  the  ut- 
most limit  of  your  ability.  Never  allow  confusion 
or  indistinctness  of  thought  to  remain  in  the  mind, 
when  it  is  possible  for  you  to  acquire  clear  and  pre- 
cise ideas.  One  definite  and  clear  idea  is  worth 
more  than  a  dozen  half-formed  notions  floating  in 

*3 

the  head.  "  A  disposition  to  rest  satisfied  with  ob- 
ocure  and  indefinite  notions,  on  subjects  within  the 
limits  of  our  knowledge,  is  at  once  an  indication  of 
the  want  of  mental  vigor,  and  a  most  formidable 
barrier  in  the  way  of  intellectual  improvement.  On 
the  other  hand,  a  dissatisfaction  with  imperfect,  half- 
formed  conceptions,  is  a  most  powerful  stimulus  to 
further  inquiry,  and  an  effectual  preventive  from 


40  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

the  error  of  taking  for  granted,  that  we  already 
know  that  of  which  we  are,  in  truth,  only  beginning 
to  perceive  our  ignorance."  A  disposition  to  rest 
satisfied  with  half-formed  notions  is  the  precursor  of 
mental  imbecility.  Our  mental,  as  well  as  our  bo- 
dily faculties,  are  "  strengthened  by  use,  and  weak- 
ened by  disuse."  The  imbecile  mind  at  length  finds 
the  effort  to  acquire  its  superficial  notions,  vague 
and  indistinct  though  they  be,  like  Ossian's  ghosts, — 
"  dun  forms  of  uncircumscribed  shade," — as  laborious, 
and  by  far  less  satisfactory,  than  are  the  efforts  put 
forth  by  the  mind  accustomed  to  vigorous  thought. 

Precision  of  language  is  very  closely  connected 
with  precision  of  thought.  "  Whether  our  immedi- 
ate object  be  to  arrive  at  clear  conceptions  in  our 
own  train  of  thought,  or  to  convey  our  ideas  with 
clearness  to  others,  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance 
to  study  precision  in  the  use  of  language.  It  is  by 
the  aid  of  language  that  we  carry  on  our  processes 
of  thought;  and  unless  we  accustom  ourselves  to 
accurate  definitions  and  distinctions,  our  notions 
must  be  obscure,  our  reasonings  perplexed,  and  our 
conclusions  frequently  erroneous.  We  often  impose 
upon  ourselves,  by  falsely  imagining  that  we  fully 
understand  a  subject,  because  we  are  familiar  with 
many  of  the  comprehensive  terms  in  which  that 
subject  is  usually  discussed ;  whereas,  to  many  of 
those  terms  we  may  never  have  attached  any  pre- 
cise or  definite  ideas." 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  41 

SECTION  VI. — Be  deterred  from  entering  upon  no  necessary 
bianch  of  study  merely  from  the  plea  that  you  "have  no 
talent  for  it." 

This  plea,  when  seriously  regarded,  is  highly  indi- 
cative of  pusilanimity  and  indecision  of  character. 
It  is  unquestionably  true  that  all  minds  are  not 
equally  well  adapted  to  every  intellectual  pursuit. 
Some  seem  to  have  a  genius  for  the  languages,  and 
acquire  them  with  great  facility ;  others  seem  to  have 
a  peculiar  aptitude  for  mathematics.  Whether  this 
intellectual  bent,  or  aptitude,  result  from  habit  or 
native  genius,  it  is  indicative  of  the  undue  preponder- 
ance of  some  one  of  our  faculties,  and  is,  in  itself,  a 
substantial  reason  why  the  discarded  study  should 
be  made  a  special  subject  of  mental  application. 
Labor  omnia  vlncit.  If  you  have  no  taste  for  a  par- 
ticular and  necessary  branch  of  study,  form  one  by 
your  own  mental  energy  and  determination ;  if  you 
"  have  no  talents"  for  such  a  branch,  create  them. 
The  energy  of  mind  you  will  have  called  into  ex- 
ercise, and  the  intellectual  power  you  will  have  en- 
gendered in  the  conilict,  will  amply  repay  your  ex- 
ertion. Many  of  the  most  distinguished  votaries  of 
science,  discovered  no  original  aptitude  for  the  par- 
ticular branch  of  study  in  which  they  afterward  ex- 
celled ;  some,  indeed,  seemed  to  possess  a  positive  in- 
aptitude and  disrelish  for  those  very  pursuits,  which 
they  afterward  prosecuted  with  so  much  honor  to 
themselves,  and  usefulness  to  the  world.  On  the 
other  hand,  we  shall  find  that  our  "  smart "  children 


42  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

and  youth,  who  seem  to  comprehend  a  lesson  almost 
by  intuition,  rarely  become  proficients  in  science;  in 
fact,  they  rarely  maintain  a  respectable  mediocrity, 
even,  in  those  very  branches  in  which  the 'r  precocity 
was  most  observable.  Let  no  one,  then,  be  deterred 
from  any  necessaiy  study  by  this  mischievous  plea. 

We  have  not  here  intended  to  C-ijoin  that  every 
man,  nor  indeed  that  any  man,  should  "intermeddle 
with  all  knowledge ;"  but  have  spoken  only  of  the 
branches  of  study  "  necessary"  to  the  full  and  sym- 
metrical development  of  the  powers  of  the  mind,  or 
such  as  maybe  called  in  requisition  by  the  duties  of 
our  profession.  This  development  is  the  inalienable 
right  of  every  immortal  being.  And  all  this  may 
be  affirmed,  without  denying  the  propriety  or  utility 
of  special  education  for  the  particular  callings  of  life. 
The  visionary  notion,  which  some  have  entertained, 
of  converting  the  great  mass  of  mankind  into  sage 
philosophers,  exhibits  a  lamentable  misapprehension 
of  the  objects  and  destiny  of  humanity.  The  exten- 
sive pursuit  of  Belles  Lettres,  and  a  passion  for  the 
study,  might  be  of  essential  service  to  the  orator; 
but,  at  the  same  time,  injurious  to  the  farmer.  The 
study  of  the  ancient  classics,  so  essential  in  tl-e  learned 
professions,  is  not  equally  indispensable  in  the  man- 
ual occupations.  Says  a  witty  writer.  "  If  a  fanner 
whose  livelihood  depends  upon  his  bodily  labor, 
should  spend  that  time  in  investigating  the  philosophy 
of  his  plants,  which  he  ought  to  spend  in  hoeing 
them,  he  would  merit  ridicule,  and  be  sure  to  meet 
with  poverty.  A  mechanic  would  quickly  lose  hii 


ACQUISITION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.  43 

customers,  should  he  brandish  his  learning  in  their 
faces,  and  attempt  to  entertain  them  with  <5cientific 
harangues,  instead  of  performing  their  work  cvith  dis- 
patch and  neatness.  Nor  would  a  mechanic  thrive 
in  trade,  who  should  neglect  his  legcr  for  the  study 
of  Homer  or  Shakspeare ;  or  who  should  be  courting 
the  muses,  when  he  ought  to  be  posting  his  books  or 
waiting  upon  his  customers."  "VT «  admit  the  force 
and  truthfulness  of  these  remarks,  but  we  doubt 
whether  they  are  of  very  extensive  applicability. 
Nor  do  they  in  the  least  justify  the  author's  conclu- 
sion, that  "  all  learning  that  is  entirely  foreign  to 
one's  business  is  very  apt  to  be  worse  than  useless  to 
him."  It  was  an  adage  of  the  ancient  Latins — par 
negotiis  neque  supra — that  "  a  man  should  be  equal 
to  his  business,  not  above  it."  And  there  are  thou- 
sands who  seem  more  solicitous  not  to  be  above,  than 
they  do  to  be  equal  to  their  business.  To  us  it  seems 
a  most  obvious  truth,  that  the  capabilities  and  ac- 
quirements of  every  man  should  so  far  surpass  the 
special  demands  of  his  business,  as  to  enable  him  to 
meet  the  claims  of  his  social  and  intellectual  destiny. 
The  accomplishment  of  this  will  require  a  mind  of 
cultivated  feeling,  of  developed  and  refined  powers, 
and  of  varied  and  valuable  knowledge. 

SECTION  VII. — Accustom  yourself  carefully  to  discriminate 
between  sound  and  sophistical  reasoning,  and  never  indulyt 
yourself  in  the  use  of  the  latter. 

Owing  to  the  imperfection  of  the  human  under* 
standing,  fallacious  or  unsound  arguments  often  find 


44  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

place  in  a  train  of  reasoning,  even  when  there  was 
no  intention  of  using  them  on  the  part  of  the  speaker. 
They  also  often  occur  from  design,  in  order  to  sus- 
tain a  bad  cause,  "  to  make  the  worse  appear  the 
better  reason  ;"  or  more  effectually  to  secure  the  tri- 
umph of  a  cause,  in  itself  good.  The  former  implies 
an  intellectual  defect ;  the  latter,  moral  obliquity. 

One  of  the  most  delicate  and  important  processes 
connected  with  the  exercise  of  the  reasoning  power, 
is  the  critical  discrimination  of  the  nature  and  rela- 
tions of  the  various  propositions  that  are  called  up. 
Mr.  Upham  considers  "  diversity  in  the  suscepti- 
bility of  feeling  relations,"  one  of  the  grounds  of  the 
differences  in  the  power  of  reasoning  among  men. 
This  susceptibility  is  unquestionably  capable  of  a 
high  degree  of  cultivation,  and  when  its  use  becomes 
habitual,  the  individual  will  rarely  be  betrayed  into 
the  unintentional  use  of  a  fallacious  argument,  nor 
be  very  likely  to  be  deceived  by  one,  when  used  by 
another. 

Those  in  whom  memory  or  imagination  predomi- 
nates, are  extremely  liable  to  the  unintentional  use 
of  fallacious  reasonings.  The  former  presents  a 
hurdle  of  isolated  facts,  and  then  imagines  that  he 
has  produced  an  argument;  the  latter  brings  into 
battle  array,  what  Pope  denominates,  "a  mob  of 
metaphors,"  and  then  exclaims,  Jo  triumplte  !  The 
multitude,  bewildered  equally  by  the  volubility  of  the 
man  of  memory,  and  by  the  variety  and  number  of 
his  facts;  or  smitten  by  the  brilliant  flashes  and 
sparkling  imagery  of  the  man  of  imagination,  are  toe 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  45 

»ften  unable,  at  the  moment,  to  fathom  the  shallow 
depths  of  the  reasoning.  But  it  should  not  be  for- 
gotten, that  this  momentary  victory  is  gained  at  the 
expense  of  the  future  confidence  and  respect  of  those 
over  whom  it  is  gained.  It  was  palming  off'  upon 
them  worthless  though  glittering  dust  for  gold.  Its 
effect  will  be  to  excite  in  their  minds  a  suspicion  as 
to  the  talents  of  the  reasoner,  the  soundness  of  his 
judgment,  and  the  accuracy  of  his  opinions;  or  lead 
them  to  the  question  his  moral  integrity.  "  Argu  • 
monts  are  to  be  iceir/hed,  not  numbered."  A  sophis- 
tical argument,  when  detected  in  company  with  those 
that  are  sound,  detracts  from  their  weight  and  force, 
just  as  negative  quantities,  in  an  algebraic  formula, 
cause  a  diminution  of  the  value  of  the  whole  expres- 
sion. When  an  individual  is  detected  in  using  fal- 
lacious arguments  unintentionally,  it  will  beget  a  dis- 
trust of  his  intellectual  capabilities;  when,  in  using 
them  intentionally,  it  will  beget  a  distrust  of  his  i-?oral 
integrity  as  a  reasoner.  And,  in  either  ease,  men 
will  hesitate  to  yield  themselves  any  longer  to  his 
guidance.  On  the  other  hand,  nothing  can  be  more 
effective  in  securing  confidence,  than  a  sound,  dis- 
criminating judgment,  and  a  manly  determination 
never  to  avail  yourself  of  the  temporary  advantage 
gained  by  the  use  of  fallacious  arguments. 

A  sound  and  discriminating  judgment  can  be  at- 
tained only  by  cultivating  habits  of  careful  discri- 
mination between  error  and  truth,  and  a  rigid  ad- 
herence to  the  latter.  "  In  the  conduct  of  life,  and 
certainly  in  every  professional  career,  it  is  of  stiU 


46  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

greater  importance  to  exercise  a  sound,  discriminat- 
ing judgment,  than  even  to  have  at  command  ample 
stores  of  literature  and  science.  A  lesson  of  no  in- 
considerable value  should  be  learned  from  the  ex- 
ample of  those  •writers  (and  they  are  not  few  in  num- 
bu)  whose  memory  has  been  much  more  success- 
fully cultivated  than  their  judgment;  who  excite 
admiration  at  the  rich  and  varied  treasures  of  their 
knowledge,  without  inspiring  respect  for  their  opin- 
ions, or  confidence  in  their  reasonings;  who  can, 
with  apparent  facility,  borrow  illustrations  and  em- 
bellishments from  almost  every  department  of  science, 
but  employ  them  in  aid  of  opinions  formed  with  in- 
cautious haste,  supported  with  fallacious  arguments, 
and  maintained  with  all  the  confidence  of  dogma- 
tism." 

SECTION  VIII. — Never  permit  the  fancy  and  imagination 
to  predominate  over  the  understanding,  so  as  to  impair  its 
energy  or  darken  its  perception. 

The  imagination  is  undoubtedly  called  into  ex<^r- 
cise  in  every  process  of  reasoning,  and  contributes 
essentially  to  the  progress  of  an  individual  in  the 
icquisition  of  knowledge.  Mr.  Stewart,  though,  as 
we  think,  he  hardly  gives  just  rank  and  importance 
to  the  imagination  among  her  sister  faculties,  makes 
the  following  concessions  upon  this  subject :  "  In 
scientific  researches,  those  habits  of  the  mind  which 
lay  the  foundation  of  poetical  genius  may,  undoubt- 
edly, be  of  occasional  use,  by  suggesting  analogies  as 
interesting  subjects  of  philosophical  examination' 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  47 

"vhich  analogies,  though  they  often  do  no  more  than 
furnish  amusement  to  the  fancy,  may  yet  sometimes 
lead  to  important  discoveries.  The  power  of  in- 
vention, besides,  is  necessarily  connected  with  the 
powers  of  imagination  and  fancy ;  at  least  they  con- 
tribute their  share  largely  in  supplying  the  materials 
on  which  invention  is  to  operate.  It  is  scarcely 
necessary  for  me  to  add,  of  what  advantage  they  arc 
to  the  theorist,  in  supplying  him  with  happy  and 
varied  illustrations  of  his  hypothesis ;  an  advantage 
which,  it  must  be  owned,  has,  in  the  past  history  of 
science,  been  more  frequently  employed  in  giving 
plausibility  to  error,  than  in  illustrating  and  es- 
tablishing truth."  The  author  also  asserts,  that  it  is 
from  the  seducing  influence  of  these  powers  that  the 
principal  charm  of  Darwin's  Zoonomia  arises.  And 
that  young  and  undisciplined  understandings  are  apt 
to  be  misled  by  philosophical  romance.  Mr.  Upham 
also  asserts,  that  a  vigorous  and  well-disciplined  im- 
agination may  be  made  subservient  to  the  intellectual 
process  of  reasoning ;  but  at  the  same  time  gives  the 
caution  that  "  the  remark  is  made  only  on  the  sup- 
position of  the  imagination  being  well  disciplined, 
which  implies,  that  it  is  under  suitable  control,  other- 
wise it  will  rather  encumber  and  perplex,  than  afford 
aid." 

Mr.  Stewart,  in  his  remarks  upon  the  influence 
of"  poetic  habits"  on  the  intellectual  faculties,  further 
asserts,  that  "  by  cherishing  a  proneness  to  analogical 
combination,  they  have  a  tendency  to  impair  that 
severe  and  discriminating  good  sense,  which  alone 


18  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

can  guide  us  infallibly  in  the  search  of  truth." 
''  Xot,"  he  further  observes,  "  that  I  would  venture, 
•with  Mr.  Diafoires.  to  assume  as  certain,  the  converge 
of  this  proposition,  and  to  conclude,  that,  in  propor- 
tion as  imagination  is  weak,  our  other  faculties  must 
necessarily  be  strong.  '  I  foresee,'  said  this  fond 
parent,  '  from  the  heaviness  of  my  son's  imagination, 
that  he  will  have,  in  time,  an  excellent  judgment.' 
All  that  I  would  be  understood  to  assert  is.  that  a 
more  than  ordinary  liveliness  and  warmth  of  im- 
agination will  require,  in  a  greater  degree,  the  dis- 
cipline of  logical  precepts  and  of  philosophical  habits 
•of  thinking,  to  prevent  the  possessor  from  losing 
his  way  in  his  scientific  researches,  than  when  this 
faculty  does  not  possess  the  ascendant  in  the  intel- 
lectual frame."  After  remarking  upon  the  influence 
of  the  imagination  in  cultivation  of  moral  and  in- 
tellectual character,  Mr.  Abercrombie  observes, 
k'  There  is  certainly  no  power  of  the  mind  that  re- 
quires more  cautious  management  and  stern  control, 
and  the  proper  regulation  of  it  cannot  be  too  strongly 
impressed  upon  the  mind." 

When  imagination  and  fancy  predominate,  there 
is  a  constant  tendency  to  withdraw  the  mind  from 
the  careful  observation  of  external  realities,  so  es- 
sential in  critical  investigation,  and  to  send  it  out 
upon  visionary  speculations.  Foster,  in  one  of  his 
essays,  remarks,  "  There  may  be  an  intellect  not  pos- 
itively feeble,  yet  practically  reduced  to  debility  by 
a  disproportionate  imagination,  which  continually 
invades  its  sphere,  and  takes  everything  out  of  its 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  49 

nands."  "  Imagination  may  be  indulged,  till  it  usurp 
an  entire  ascendency  over  the  mind,  and  then  every 
subject  presented  to  that  mind  will  excite  imagina- 
tion, instead  of  understanding,  to  work;  imagination 
will  throw  its  colors,  where  the  intellectual  faculty 
ought  to  draw  its  lines ;  imagination  will  accumulate 
metaphors,  when  reason  ought  to  deduce  arguments ; 
images  will  take  the  place  of  thoughts,  and  scenes  of 
disquisitions.  The  whole  mind  may  become,  at 
length,  something  like  a  hemisphere  of  cloud-sce- 
nery, filled  with  an  ever-moving  train  of  changing, 
melting  forms,  of  every  color,  mingled  with  rain- 
bows, meteors,  and  an  occasional  gleam  of  pure  sun- 
light, all  vanishing  away,  the  mental,  like  this  na- 
tural imagery,  when  its  hour  is  up,  without  leaving 
anything  behind,  but  the  wish  to  recover  the  vision. 
And  yet,  the  while,  this  series  of  visions  maybe  mis- 
taken for  operations  of  thought,  and  each  cloudy 
image  be  admitted  in  place  of  a  proposition  or  a  rea- 
son ;  or  it  may  even  be  mistaken  for  something  sub- 
limer  than  thinking.  The  influence  of  this  habit  of 
dwelling  upon  the  beautiful,  fallacious  forms  of  im- 
agination, will  accompany  the  mind  into  the  most 
serious  speculations,  or  rather  musings,  of  the  real 
world,  and  what  is  to  be  done  in  it,  and  expected ; 
as  the  image,  which  the  eye  acquires  from  looking 
at  -my  dazzling  object,  still  appears  before  it  where- 
ever  it  turns.  The  vulgar  materials  that  constitute 
the  economy  of  the  actual  world  will  rise  up  to  its 
eight  in  fictitious  forms,  which  it  cannot  disenchant 
Into  plain  reality,  nor  will  even  suspect  to  be  decep- 
4 


50  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

tive.  It  cannot  go  about  with  sober,  rational  inspec 
tion,  and  ascertain  the  nature  and  value  of  thingr 
around  it.  Indeed  such  a  mind  is  not  disposed  to 
examine,  with  any  careful  minuteness,  the  real  con- 
dition of  things."  This  is  that  class  of  persons 
which,  the  same  author  says  in  another  place,  "  oc- 
cupies a  dubious  frontier  space  between  the  rational 
and  the  insane."  Certain  it  is,  that  it  is  a  class  which 
can  never  make  distinguished  progress  in  sound  in- 
tellectual attainments. 

SECTION  IX. — Cultivate  the  habit  of  strict  and  diligent  In- 
vestigation. 

Such  a  habit  will  not  only  contribute  largely  to 
mental  growth  and  expansion ;  but  it  will  also  tend 
greatly  to  the  increase  of  our  stock  of  valuable 
knowledge.  "  To  investigate,  in  the  original  sen?e 
of  the  word,  is  to  search  for  an  unknown  object,  by 
discovering  or  following;  out  the  traces  which  it  has 
left,  in  the  path  which  leads  to  its  unknown  situation. 
Thus,  we  find  where  a  person  is  concealed  by  tracing 
his  footsteps  from  the  place  whence  he  set  out  In 
the  investigation  of  truth,  we  set  out  from  a  point 
which  is  already  ascertained,  with  a  view  to  our  ar- 
rival to  a  point  not  yet  ascertained.  But  this  pro- 
gress is  not  to  be  effected  by  plans  arbitrary  and 
capricious.  Our  steps  must  be  directed,  and  our 
efforts  guided,  by  certain  principles  of  inquiry  and 
research.  There  is  a  certain  process  of  thought ;  an 
unbroken  series  of  causes  and  consequents,  by  which 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  51 

alone  we  can  pass  from  that  which  is  known  to  that 
which  is  unknown.  If  any  of  the  links  of  that  chain 
be  disjoined,  or  rather,  if  they  be  not  clearly  dis- 
covered, the  interval  may  indeed  be  supplied  by 
conjecture,  but  the  investigation  is  incomplete." 
Sometimes  the  expenditure  of  much  labor  and  time 
is  necessary  in  order  to  search  out  all  the  successive 
links,  and  make  them  take  their  proper  places  in  the 
train  of  investigation  or  reasoning.  Nothing  short 
of  this,  however,  can  secure  vigor  to  our  mental 
power,  and  completeness  to  our  knowledge. 

The  attainment  of  this  habit  will  require  vigorous 
and  determined  effort.  "  The  true  spirit  of  investi 
gation,  and  a  facility  in  pursuing  the  requisite  in- 
quiries, are  not  of  easy  acquisition.  They  are  the 
result  of  frequent  effort,  and  judicious  discipline. 
But  the  value  of  the  attainment,  is  an  ample  com- 
pensation for  the  labor  which  it  demands.  The  habit 
acquired  is  applicable  to  all  the  objects  which  are 
placed  within  the  grasp  of  the  human  faculties.  It 
is  equally  requisite,  and  equally  beneficial  in  inves- 
tigation of  individual  character,  of  historical  facts,  of 
the  phenomena  of  matter  and  of  mind,  and  of  the 
still  more  momentous  and  interesting  truths  which 
constitute  the  system  of  divine  revelation. 

"  This  habit  of  careful  investigation  will  also  exert 
a  salutary  influence  upon  the  intellectual  chaiacter, 
in  producing  a  manly  independence  of  mind.  He 
who  has  been  accustomed  to  examine  for  himself  will 
not  be  disposed  to  rely  implicitly  on  the  opinion  of 
others,  or  to  surrender  his  judgment  to  the  demand 


52  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

of  opinionated  dogmatism.  While  he  will  gratefully 
receive,  and  acknowledge  the  aid  of  others,  in  cor- 
recting his  opinions  and  extending  his  views,  he  will 
be  in  no  danger  of  resembling  those  who  resign  their 
judgment  to  the  last  man  they  hear  or  read ;  who, 
chamelion-like,  take  the  color  of  that  which  is  laid 
before  them,  and  as  soon  lose  or  resign  it  to  the  next 
that  happens  to  come  in  their  way." 

SECTION  X. — Endeavor  to  have  some  special  subject  of  in- 
vestigation constantly  before  you,  to  stimulate  your  exer- 
tions. 

"  I  would  advise  you,"  says  the  author  of  Letters 
to  a  Student,  "  to  form  the  habit  of  engaging  often 
in  fixed  and  profound  thought  on  some  interesting 
subject,  with  the  object  of  acquiring  greater  skill  in 
the  work  of  thorough  investigation.  It  would  be 
well  if  you  should  make  this  a  daily  business.  Select 
some  interesting  subject :  abstract  your  mind  from 
everything  eke  :  fasten  your  thoughts  on  this :  sur- 
vey it  in  all  its  aspects :  trace  out  all  its  relations : 
analyze  it  thoroughly Be  assured  you  can- 
not too  soon  adopt  correct  principles,  and  enter  on 
a  right  course  of  action,  on  this  subject.  Let  me 
forewarn  you,  however,  you  will  not  succeed  in  put- 
ting into  practice  what  I  have  recommended  with- 
out much  effort  Every  man  is,  in  a  greater  or  less 
degree,  naturally  indolent  Your  mind  will  often 
shrink  from  the  intense  thought  which  will  be  neces- 
sary in  the  course  I  have  marked  out.  But  put  it 
to  the  task.  And  though  the  way  may  seem  rough 


ACQUISITION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.  53 

and  forbidding  at  first,  it  will  doubtless  grow  more 
smooth  and  delightful  at  every  step  of  your  pro- 
gress." 

Two  important  advantages  will  result  from  pur- 
suing the  course  here  pointed  out.  The  mind  will 
he  making  rapid  improvement  in  the  power  of  ac- 
curate and  profound  investigation ;  and  will,  at  the 
same  time,  acquire  a  more  perfect  and  extensive 
knowledge  of  many  important  subjects  than  it  would 
otherwise  have  attained.  Nulla  dies  sine  linea  was 
the  motto  of  a  great  painter,  and  should  be  the  motto 
of  every  one  that  would  excel.  Similar  to  this  was 
the  reply  of  Luther ;  when  asked  how,  in  addition 
to  all  his  other  labors,  he  had  found  time  to  translate 
the  whole  Bible,  he  replied,  that  "  he  had  done  a 
little  every  day."  It  is  wonderful  how  much  a  man 
may  accomplish  by  faithfully  acting  upon  this  motto. 
He  may  be  neither  "  a  fast  worker"  nor  "  a  genius ;" 
nay,  he  may  be  what  is  technically  called  "  a  hard 
student,"  "a  delver;"  but,  in  the  end,  he  will  bo 
found  to  have  made  more  valuable  acquisitions  than 
could  ever  have  been  made  by  the  irregular  salliea 
of  the  brightest  genius. 

These  are  the  efforts,  and  this  is  the  mental  dis- 
cipline, that  is  to  enable  individuals  to  grasp  the 
emergencies  of  coming  years,  and  bend  them  to 
their  own  purpose.  What  will  the  occurrence  of  a 
thousand  emergencies,  and  a  thousand  openings  of 
Providence,  accomplish  for  any  one ;  unless  by 
previous  mental  discipline  and  attainments  he  is 
prepared  to  enter  upon  the  theatre  thrown  open  to 


54  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

him?  The  imagination  may  picture  a  thousand 
scenes  in  which  the  idler  hopes  to  be  the  magna 
oars  quorum  fui ;  but,  alas  for  his  prospects !  he  puts 
forth  no  well-directed  and  continuous  efforts  to  pre- 
pare himself  i'or  them.  The  sighing  imbecile  lan- 
guidly inquires,  where  is  the  use  of  his  making  pre- 
sent exertions,  when  it  is  altogether  uncertain  what 
may  be  the  emergencies  in  which  he  may  L^  called 
to  act,  and  whether  there  will  be  any  openings  of 
Providence  for  him?  Had  they  acted  upon  such 
principles,  the  world  had  never  known  a  Newton, 
nor  science  acknowledged  its  indebtedness  to  a 
Franklin.  When  the  stadium  is  defined,  the  goal 
placed  in  sight,  and  the  crowd  assembled  to  witness 
the  race  and  applaud  the  victor,  it  is  no  time  for  the 
contender  to  begin  his  preparation  for  the  race. 
AVill  he  then  betake  himself  to  exercise,  that  he  may 
obtain  suppleness  of  muscle,  flexibility  of  joint,  agility 
of  motion,  and  power  of  endurance  ?  Nay,  unless 
all  these  have  been  acquired  by  previous  exercise, 
he  enters  the  lists  only  to  suffer  defeat  and  disgrace. 

SECTION  XI. —  Guard  against  the  waste  of  tinie,  in  frivo- 
lous and  unimportant  pursuits. 

In  close  connection  with  the  subject,  of  the  pre- 
ceding section  stands  the  precept  we  have  placed  at 
the  head  of  this.  Individuals  of  great  mental  power 
and  capacity  sometimes  fall  into  dissolute  habits, 
with  regard  to  the  occupation  and  improvement  of 
their  time.  They  are  diverted  first  by  one  object, 
the.;  by  another,  from  the  object  they  are  conscious 


ACQUISITION    OF   KNOWLEDGE.  55 

they  ought  to  pursue,  and,  indeed,  the  course  they 
ore  determined  to  pursue ;  and,  in  the  end,  find, 
without  hardly  knowing  why,  that  nothing  has  been 
accomplished.  In  this  frivolous  waste  of  time  may 
be  included  much  that  is  spent  in  perusing  thvJ  light 
literature  of  the  day,  in  reading  newspapers,  and 
not  a  small  portion  of  that  spent  in  social  chit-chat. 
Also  in  attending  upon  the  little  domestic  duties  re- 
lating to  the  person  or  family  of  the  professional 
man,  essential,  indeed,  but  too  often  made  a  pretext 
for  dallying  and  frittering  away  a  large  portion  of  the 
time  that  should  be  appropriated  to  study.  To  at- 
tend to  ordinary  duties  pertaining  to  the  necessary 
economy  of  life,  to  take  sufficient  time  for  social  in- 
tercourse, for  sleep,  for  mental  relaxation,  and  for 
bodily  exercise,  is  by  no  means  a  waste  of  time.  All 
these  are  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  our  intel 
lectual  balance  and  power ;  but  when  they  become 
the  occasion  of  diverting  the  mind  from  those  sterner 
pursuits,  so  essential  to  mental  culture,  their  influ- 
ence is  most  pernicious.  Dissolute  habits,  with  re- 
ference to  the  use  of  time,  will  become  strong:  an 
aversion  to  rigid  mental  application  will  be  gene- 
rated ;  and  mental  imbecility  will  be  the  inevitable 
result.  These  habits  are  the  more  dangerous,  be- 
cause they  appear  first  in  the  form,  perhaps,  of  inci- 
dental duties,  or  of  necessary  relaxation.  When 
they  are  once  formed,  the  victim  of  them  can  find 
sufficient  excuse  for  the  occupation  of  his  time  other- 
wise than  in  his  study ;  he  may  indeed  be  ever  plan- 
ning schemes  of  literary  enterprise  or  courses  of 


56  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

study,  but  never  the  time  to  execute  them.     The 
following  distich  of  Ovid  is  not  inappropriate : — 

Principiis  obsta,  scro  medecina  paratur 
Cum  niala  per  longas  convaluere  maras. 

We  shall  find  few,  who  have  been  distinguished 
in  any  department  of  human  learning,  or  who  have 
accomplished  extensive  good  for  their  race,  who 
have  not  been  jealous  of  the  waste  of  time.  The 
celebrated  John  Wesley  was  never  known  to  squan- 
der a  moment ;  even  while  traveling  the  highway, 
from  one  appointment  to  another,  he  was  occupied 
with  some  theme  of  meditation,  or  might  be  seen 
with  his  pen  or  book  in  his  hand.  Few  men  have 
traveled,  and  perhaps  none  preached,  as  much  as  he 
did ;  and  yet,  by  this  careful  expenditure  of  time, 
he  produced  an  amount  of  matter  for  the  press  abso- 
lutely incredible.  According  to  Mr.  Evans,  "  his 
works,  including  abridgments  and  translations, 
amounted  to  about  two  hundred  volumes.  They 
comprise  treatises  on  almost  every  subject,  di- 
vinity, poetry,  music,  history,  natural,  moral,  meta- 
physical, and  political  philosophy."  How  many, 
even  if  they  should  live  to  his  age,  would  never  find 
time  to  read  as  many  volumes  as  he  wrote !  It  is 
also  said  of  Boyle,  that  during  his  continental  tours, 
when  a  young  man,  under  the  care  of  his  tutor,  he 
would  never  lose  a  vacant  moment  While  on  the 
road,  though  in  a  rough  way,  or  walking  down  hill, 
he  would  be  reading  all  the  time.  When  they  came 
to  an  inn,  at  night,  he  would  study  till  supper,  and 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  0< 

frequently  propose  such  difficulties  as  he  met  with 
to  his  governor.  His  works  comprise  six  large 
quarto  volumes,  on  theology,  oriental  literature,  na- 
)  ural  history,  mathematics,  and  experimental  physics, 
including  music,  anatomy,  chemistry,  geography,  &c., 
&c.  "  The  law  of  our  nature,"  says  Dr.  Blair,  "  and 
the  condition  under  which  we  are  placed  from  our 
birth,  is,  that  nothing  good  or  great  is  to  be  acquired 
without  toil  and  industry.  A  price  is  appointed  by- 
Providence  for  everything;  and  the  price  of  im- 
provement is  labor."  "  In  all  labor,''  says  the  wise 
man,  "  there  is  profit ;  but  the  soul  of  the  sluggard 
desireth,  and  hath  nothing." 

SECTION  XII. — Guard  against  vague  mental  reveries. 

The  minds  of  many  are  occupied,  not  a  small  por- 
tion of  their  waking  hours,  in  a  kind  of  revery  or 
mental  abstraction,  in  which  they  give  loose  reins 
to  the  imagination,  and  suffer  the  mind  to  rove 
wherever  it  may,  without  control  or  restraint.  So 
accustomed  do  such  minds  become  to  vague  mental 
reveries,  that  they  seem  to  lose  the  power  of  self- 
control,  and  to  whatever  subject  of  general  inquiry 
they  may  be  directed,  they  become  almost  instantly 
absorbed  in  some  dreamy  revery — ever  and  anon 
awaking  to  consciousness  only  to  put  forth  another 
short-lived  intellectual  effort,  and  then  to  relapse 
into  forge tf'ulness.  This  class  of  intellectual  dream- 
ers are  not  unlike  those  with  whom  sleep  exists  &a 
$n  idiopathic  affection,  and  over  whom  Morpheus 


68  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

lias  established  a  universal  and  but  feebly  disputed 
dominion.  "  Revery  proceeds,"  says  the  author  of 
the  Philosophy  of  Sleep,  "  from  an  -inusual  quies- 
cence of  the  brain,  and  inability  of  the  mind  to  di 
rect  itself  strongly  to  any  one  point ;  it  is  often  the 
prelude  of  sleep.  There  is  a  defect  in  the  attention, 
which,  instead  of  being  fixed  on  one  subject,  wanders 
over  a  thousand,  and  even  on  these  is  feebly  and  in- 
effectively directed.  We  sometimes  see  this  while 
reading,  or  rather  while  attempting  to  read.  We 
get  over  page  after  page,  but  the  ideas  take  no  hold 
upon  us ;  we  are,  in  truth,  ignorant  of  what  we  pe- 
ruse, and  the  mind  is  either  an  absolute  blank,  or 
vaguely  addressed  to  something  else." 

It  would  be  surprising  to  consider  how  large  a 
portion  of  our  time  is  thus  consumed  without  being 
productive  of  any  good.  "  Since  the  time  that  rea- 
son began  to  exert  her  powers,"  says  Blair,  "  thought, 
during  our  waking  hours,  has  been  active  in  every 
breast,  without  a  moment's  suspension  or  pause. 
The  current  of  ideas  has  been  always  flowing.  The 
wheels  of  the  spiritual  engine  have  circulated  with 
perpetual  motion.  Let  me  ask  what  has  been  the 
fruit  of  this  incessant  activity  with  the  greatest  part 
of  mankind  ?  Of  the  innumerable  hours  that  have 
been  employed  in  thought,  how  few  are  marked  with 
any  permanent  or  useful  effect  ?  How  many  have 
either  passed  away  in  idle  dreams,  or  have  been 
abandoned  to  anxious,  discontented  musings,  to  un- 
social and  malignant  passions,  or  to  irregular  and 
criminal  desires  ?  Even  when  men  imagine  their 


ACQUISITION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.  59 

/noughts  to  be  innocently  employed,  they  too  com- 
monly suffer  them  to  run  out  into  extravagant  im- 
aginations, and  chimerical  plans  of  what  they  would 
wish  to  attain,  or  choose  to  be,  if  they  could  frame 
the  course  of  things  according  to  theu  desire."  This 
brief  paragraph  comprehends  the  outline  of  the  in- 
tellectual history  of  a  great  propoi  cion  of  our  race, 
and  covers  not  a  small  proportion  of  the  time  of  each 
individual.  What  a  waste  of  intellect  is  here ! 
What  a  misapplication  of  those  powers  that  were 
given  us  for  exalted  and  worthy  purposes  ! 

These  mental  reveries  are  widely  distinct  from  the 
profound  abstraction  to  which  the  minds  of  close 
thinkers  are  sometimes  subject.  In  the  case  of 
revery,  the  attention  is  fixed  definitely  on  no  one 
thing,  while  the  mind  skims  lightly  over  a  thousand 
fanciful  ideas;  in  the  case  of  mental  abstraction,  the 
individual  seems  absent-minded,  because  his  whole 
soul  has  gone  out,  as  it  were,  to  grasp  the  object  of 
its  contemplations.  Some  illustrations  have  been 
given  upon  this  point  in  a  preceding  section.  "  Ac- 
cording to  Mr.  Combe,  those  who  have  a  small  de- 
velopment of  the  organ  of  concentrativeness,  are  ex- 
ceedingly prone  to  revery ;  while  those  who  ha\e  a 
large  development  of  it,  are  peculiarly  liable  to  fall 
into  a  state  of  abstraction."  The  two  states  may 
therefore  be  considered  not  only  as  distinct  from 
each  other,  but  also,  in  a  measure,  as  opposed  to  each 
other.  Their  tendency  is  also  widely  distinct,  the 
one  leading  to  absurdities  in  action,  the  other  t« 
general  mental  imbecility. 


60  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

The  causes  that  lead  to  indulgence  in  this  habit  of 
mental  dissipation  are  various.  Says  Dr.  Macnish, 
"  Revery  has  been  known  to  arise  from  the  mind 
sustaining  a  temporary  weakness,  in  consequence  of 
long  and  excessive  application  to  one  subject  It  is 
also,  I  believe,  induced  by  forcing  young  people  to 
learn  what  they  dislike.  In  this  case,  the  mind,  find- 
ing it  impossible  to  direct  itself  to  the  hated  task, 
goes  wandering  off  in  another  direction,  and  thus 
acquires  a  habit  of  inattention,  which,  in  extreme 
cases,  may  terminate  in  imbecility.  Sometimes  reve- 
ries arise  from  peculiarities  of  temperament,  either 
natural,  or  induced  by  mental  or  bodily  weakness. 
The  best-regulated  minds  and  strongest  bodies  may, 
however,  and  in  fact  often  have,  occasional  attacks ; 
but  when  the  feeling  grows  into  a  habit,  and  is  too 
much  indulged  in,  it  is  apt  to  injure  the  usefulness 
of  the  individual  and  impair  the  whole  fabric  of  his 
understanding." 

The  injury  that  indulgence  in  vague  mental  rev- 
eries does  to  the  intellectual  economy  is  clearly 
worthy  of  attention.  It  involves  not  only  a  waste 
of  time,  but  disqualifies  the  mind  for  sober  thought 
and  close  study,  and,  in  the  end,  impairs  the  vigor  of 
the  intellect  itself.  Says  Dr.  Blair,  "  It  is  the  power 
of  attention  which  in  a  great  measure  distinguishes 
the  wise  and  the  great  from  the  vulgar  and  trifling 
herd  of  men.  The  latter  are  accustomed  to  think,  or 
rather  to  dream,  without  knowing  the  subject  of  their 
thoughts.  In  their  unconnected  rcvings  they  pursue 
no  end,  they  follow  no  track.  Everything  float! 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  G. 

loose  and  disjointed  on  the  surface  of  their  mind, 
like  leaves  scattered  and  blown  about  on  the  face  of 
the  waters."  The  pernicious  effects  of  this  habit  on 
the  mental  powers  generally  are  thus  presented  by 
Professor  Uphain :  "  When  the  mind  is  long  left  at 
liberty  to  wander  from  object  to  object,  without  be- 
ing called  to  an  account  and  subjected  to  salutary 
discipline,  it  entirely  loses  at  last  the  ability  to  dwell 
upon  the  subjects  of  its  thoughts  and  to  examine 
them.  And  when  this  power  is  once  lost,  there  is 
but  little  ground  to  expect  any  solid  attainments." 
"  The  person  who  is  capable  of  strictly  fixing  his  at- 
tention will  have  great  advantage  over  others.  Of 
two  persons,  who  seem  naturally  to  have  equal  parts, 
the  one  who  possesses  this  characteristic  will  greatly 
excel.  So  that  it  is  hardly  too  much  to  say,  that  it 
may  become  a  sort  of  substitute  for  genius  itself." 
Dr.  Good,  to  the  same  purpose  declares,  "  It  is  upon 
the  faculty  of  attention  that  every  other  faculty  is 
dependent  for  its  vigor  and  expansion ;  without  it  the 
perception  exercises  itself  in  vain,  the  memory  can 
lay  up  no  store  of  ideas,  the  judgment  draw  forth  no 
comparisons,  the  imagination  become  blighted  and 
barren,  and  when  there  is  no  attention  whatever,  the 
case  must  necessarily  verge  upon  fatuity."  Such 
are  some  of  the  extreme  results  that  may  be  pro- 
duced by  a  neglect  of  the  control  of  our  thoughts. 

How  then  shall  the  individual  whose  mind  is  sub- 
ject to  these  vague  mental  reveries  redeem  it  from 
habits  so  detrimental  to  intellectual  improvement, 
fcnd  so  enfeebling  to  intellectual  power  ?  This  is 


(52  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE* 

not  a  question  of  easy  solution.  Mr.  Locke  seemed 
to  think,  that  "the  person  who  should  find  out  a 
remedy  for  wandering  thoughts,  would  do  a  great 
service  to  the  studious  and  contemplative  pail  of 
mankind."  The  victim  of  this  habit — and  how  few 
there  are  who  are  entirely  free  from  it — must  be  con- 
vinced that  decided  effort  and  a  determined  will,  are 
absolutely  indispensable  to  hisdisenthrallment.  Let 
him  apply  himself  with  indomitable  energy  to  those 
intellectual  pursuits  for  which  he  has  the  greatest 
relish,  leaving  those  for  which  he  has  a  dislike  till 
his  pre-formed  habits  are  in  a  measure  corrected,  or 
have  given  place  to  new  ones.  Let  him  feed  the 
desire  of  knowledge  that  exists  Avithin  his  breast,  till 
it  has  become  a  permanent  and  strong  passion  of  his 
nature.  Let  him  give  no  place  to  the  childish  in- 
ability to  confine  the  mind  to  one  object  of  contem- 
plation, but  resolutely  make  the  effort;  and,  when 
once  defeated,  repeat  it  again  and  again,  till  one 
success  inspires  him  with  confidence  in  his  powers, 
aud  stimulates  him  to  the  achievement  of  a  complete 
and  final  victory. 

SECTION  XIII. — Attend  to  bid  one  thine/  at  a  time;  and  be 
not  easily  diverted  from  any  subject  of  study  you  nnd(r- 
take. 

A  perfect  command  of  the  attention,  and  great 
power  of  abstraction,  are  indispensable  to  a  well  cul- 
tivated intellect.  Neither  of  these  powers  can  be 
cultivated  while  the  mind  is  distracted  by  its  futile 
efforts  to  grasp  a  variety  of  subjects  At  once,  01 


ACQUISITION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.  03 

racillating  in  its  attention  between  opposing  influ- 
ences. Nothing  great  has  been  achieved  in  science 
without  this  unity  of  purpose  and  action.  This 
unity  was  highly  characteristic  of  Newton.  He  at- 
tended emphatically  to  one  thing  at  a  time;  and 
hence  the  consecutive  order  in  which  his  splendid 
discoveries  were  made.  M.  Biot  says  of  him :  "  In 
general,  the  intensity  of  thinking  was  so  great,  that 
it  entirely  abstracted  his  attention  from  other  mat- 
ters, and  confined  him  exclusively  to  one  object. 
Thus  we  see  that  he  was  never  occupied  at  the  same 
time  with  two  scientific  investigations ;"  and  he  him- 
self, in  reply  to  one  that  asked  him  by  what  means 
he  had  arrived  at  his  discoveries,  said,  "  By  always 
thinking  unto  them I  keep  the  subject  be- 
fore me,  and  wait  till  the  first  dawning  opens  slowly, 
by  little  and  little,  into  a  clear  and  full  light." 

In  the  ordinary  pursuits  of  life,  we  rarely  expect 
ultimate  success  to  attend  the  man  whose  attention 
is  divided  among  various  kinds  of  business,  and  who 
is  constantly  diverted  from  one  pursuit  to  another. 
How  much  less  can  we  hope  for  success  iu  the 
higher  walks  of  learning,  or  in  the  pursuits  of  pro- 
fessional business,  if  we  pursue  a  like  course !  Car- 
bon might  have  been  a  good  blacksmith,  and  mended 
his  neighbors'  ploughs,  shod  their  horses,  and  lined 
his  own  pockets  with  cash ;  but  he  must  needs  let 
the  fires  of  his  forge  go  out,  that  he  might  manufac- 
ture machines  to  winnow  his  neighbors'  grain ;  then 
he  makes  an  astounding  discovery,  and  gets  a  patent 
for  a  bee-hive.  Thus  he  was  always  busy ;  but, 


64  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

somehow,  the  unpointed  ploughshares  continued 
to  accumulate,  till  the  season  for  ploughing  was  past, 
the  "  last  order"  for  bee-hives  remained  unanswered 
till  the  season  of  "  swarming "  had  past,  and  his 
•winnowing  machines  were  not  finished  till  after  his 
neighbors'  grain  had  been  ground  and  °aten.  Car- 
bon is  now  old ;  he  is  lank  and  long ;  Lis  clothes  are 
worn  and  threadbare ;  the  clapboards  clatter  upon 
his  dwelling ;  his  purse  is  empty,  and  debt  presses 
upon  him.  He  is  always  busy :  but  it  is  of  no  use. 
Yonder  tyro  of  a  blacksmith,  toiling  away  at  his 
forge,  from  the  gray  of  morning  till  the  dead  of 
night,  now  mends  his  neighbors'  ploughshares,  and 
shoes  Kheir  horses ;  while  that  manufacturer  in  wood, 
that  has  erected  his  shop  just  over  the  stream,  mono- 
polizes the  manufactures  demanded  by  the  surround- 
ing peasantry.  The  moral  of  the  above  is  easily  ap- 
plied. 

There  are  few  men  who  can  lay  claim  to  universal 
genius.  Dugald  Stewart  somewhere  remarks  of 
Dr.  Thomas  Brown,  that  he  "  would  have  been  a 
still  better  metaphysician  if  he  had  not  been  a  poet ; 
and  a  still  better  poet  if  he  had  not  been  a  meta- 
physician." And  further  intimates  that  Darwin  and 
Beattie  might  have  won  a  still  more  distinguished 
fame,  had  not  their  attention  been  divided  between 
metaphysics  and  poetry.  Many,  with  capabilities 
of  accomplishing  noble  and  worthy  enterprises,  place 
so  many  objects  of  pursuit  before  themselves,  that 
their  whole  strength,  their  undivided  energy,  can  be 
bestowed  upon  none ;  or  they  change  too  scon  from 


ACQUISITION   OF   KNOWLEDGE.  65 

one  object  to  another,  to  accomplish  anything  noble 
and  worthy  of  themselves  in  any  of  them.  Think 
of  Newton,  who,  in  composing  his  great  work,  after 
most  of  the  materials  had  been  already  prepared, 
lor  two  years  "  lived  orily  to  think." 

SF.CTION  XIV. — Let  your  plan  of  study,  including  the  ar- 
rangement and  distribution  of  your  time,  be  judiciously 
formed,  and  prosecuted  with  the  utmost  diligence  and  jnmc- 
tuality. 

"  The  beneficial  effect  of  order  and  regularity  in 
the  discharge  of  engagements,  especially  when  a  va- 
riety of  subjects  may  demand  attention,  must  be  in 
some  degree  apparent  to  every  one.  To  the  student 
and  the  professional  man,  not  less  than  to  the  man 
of  business,  is  regularity  and  method  important  in 
the  arrangement  of  his  pursuits ;  as  it  prevents  loss 
of  time,  by  embarrassing  suspense  with  regard  to  the 
object  which,  at  any  given  hour,  claims  immediate 
attention.  Even  a  plan  of  arrangement,  in  some 
respects  defective  and  objectionable,  would  secure  to 
a  student  a  decided  advantage  over  another  indivi- 
dual who  should  disregard  order  and  method.  In- 
oalcuable,  then,  must  be  the  benefit  arising  from 
regulations  which  proceed  on  wise  and  enlightened 
principles. 

"  A  few  suggestions  on  this  point  may  be  deserv 
ing  of  notice. 

"  1.  Let  not  the  plan  laid  down  be  so  difficult  of 
observance  as  to  incur  the  danger  of  frequent  failure 
or  irregularity.     It  is  wise  for  us  to  consider,  not 
5 


66  MENTAL   D1SCIPLINK. 

only  what  we  would  wish  to  accomplish,  but  also 
what  it  is  probable  that,  with  our  habits,  and  in  our 
circumstances,  we  shall  be  able  to  effect.  By  at- 
tempting too  much  we  often  accomplish  less  than 
we  should  have  effected  with' plans  guided  by  prin- 
ciples of  greater  moderation ;  and  one  reason  that 
may  be  assigned  for  this  is,  that  after  having  re- 
peatedly fallen  short  of  the  line  prescribed,  our  plans 
cease  to  have  authority  in  our  own  estimation,  lose 
their  practical  influence  on  the  distribution  of  our 
time,  and  having  been  thus  virtually,  they  are  at 
length  avowedly^  abandoned. 

"  2.  Let  the  proportion  of  time  and  attention  de- 
voted to  every  subject  of  study  be  regulated  by  a 
regard,  both  to  its  reed  and  to  its  relative  import- 
ance. 

"  3.  Let  the  most  important  studies  be  assigned  to 
those  hours  in  which  we  find,  by  experience,  that  we 
can  exert  our  intellectual  energies  Avith  the  greatest 
facility  and  intensity." 

Any  one  would  be  astonished,  could  he  have 
placed  before  him  the  aggregate  of  time  that  has 
been  squandered,  during  h;s  life,  for  want  of  some 
systematic  plan  of  study,  rigidly  adhered  to.  Many 
a  tipler  has  squandered  a  fortune  in  pennies ;  and. 
when  it  is  all  gone,  he  knows  not  where  or  how  it 
has  disappeared.  So  do  many  squander  the  pre- 
cious moments  of  life  away.  The  close  husbanding 
and  wise  distribution  of  time  is  often  the  true  secret 
of  the  success  of  wise  and  good  men.  Dr.  Todd 
says  of  Jeremiah  Evarts :  "  During  years  of  close 


ACQUISITION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.  67 

• 

observation,  in  the  bosom  of  his  family,  I  never  saw 
a  day  pass  without  his  accomplishing  more  than  he 
expected ;  and  so  regular  was  he  in  all  his  habits, 
that  I  knew  to  a  moment  when  I  should  find  him 
with  a  pen,  and  when  with  his  too^h-binish,  in  his 
hand ;  and  so  methodical  and  thorough,  that  though 
his  papers  filled  many  shelves,  when  closely  tied  up, 
there  was  not  a  paper  among  all  his  letters,  corres- 
pondence, editorial  matter,  and  the  like,  which  was 
not  labeled  and  in  its  place,  and  upon  which  he 
could  not  lay  his  hand  in  a  moment.  I  never  knew 
him  search  for  a  paper ;  it  was  always  in  its  place. 
I  have  never  yet  met  with  the  man  whose  industry 
was  so  great,  or  who  would  Accomplish  so  much  in  a 
given  time." 

Another  great  advantage  of  system,  in  the  allot- 
ment of  time,  will  be,  that  the  mind  will  not  be 
subject  to  impulses,  but  move  with  method  and  re- 
gularity. It  is  said  of  Dr.  Porter,  that  he  could  ac- 
complish any  task  to  which  he  applied  with  equal 
facility  at  all  times ;  and  never  was  he  under  the 
necessity  of  waiting  for  "  some  happy  hours  of 
thought,"  before  he  could  proceed  with  the  business 
in  hand.  This  is  a  characteristic  of  the  well-dis- 
ciplined mind.  It  is  not  merely  the  powei  to  make 
a  great  effort  on  special  and  intermitted  occasions 
but  to  be  able  to  make  good  efforts  constantly. 


63  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

/  ' 

SECTION  XV. — Acail  yourself  of  external  helps  only  when 
absolutely  necessary,  and  never  resott  to  them  till  after  your 
own  jiowers  have  been  tasked  to  the  utmost,  without  pro- 
ducing the  desired  result. 

Whatever  maybe  the  natural  endowments  of  an  in- 
dividual, whatever  may  be  his  external  advantages 
and  helps,  the  education  of  his  mind  -  the  disciplin- 
ing and  invigorating  its  powers — must  be  his  own 
work.  Whoever  has  been  educated,  in  school  or 
out  of  it,  whoever  has  acquired  intensity  and  power 
of  intellect,  has  acquired  them  by  the  intense  and 
vigorous  use  of  his  intellect.  Artificial  helps,  with- 
out this  use,  can  never  impart  the  requisite  discipline 
of  mind. 

Oral  instruction  from  teachers  or  associates,  .and 
the  perusal  of  authors,  may  often  prove  of  essential 
service,  not  only  in  removing  the  obstacles  that  had 
impeded  our  progress,  but  also  in  extending  the 
boundaries  of  our  knowledge.  AVhen,  however, 
these  are  resorted  to.  to  avoid  intellectual  exertion 
on  our  part,  such  a  practice  will  be  exceedingly  dt, 
trimental  to  our  intellectual  growth. 

"  The  question  perpetually  arising  in  the  mino  (\f 
the  student  of  remiss  and  indolent  habits,  is,  How 
shall  I  facilitate  my  labor  by  obtaining  assistance 
from  others?  The  question  equally  familiar  to  the 
mind  of  the  student  athirst  for  knowledge,  and  will- 
ing to  acquire  it  at  the  expense  of  strenuous  excr- 
tkn  ,  is,  How  shall  I  accomplish  my  object  with  the 
least  assistance  from  others?  It  is  not  difficult  to 


ACQUISITION    OF   KNOWLEDGE.  69 

predict  the  tendency  and  result  of  either  habit  of 
miiid.  By  the  one  the  intellectual  character  is  de- 
graded and  enfeebled,  by  the  other  it  attains  dignity 
and  elevation,  energy  and  self-command.  He  who 
always  does  his  best  will  usually  do  well,  and  often 
more  than  well,  and  if  he  fail  occasionally  to  accom- 
plish his  object,  his  failure  will  neither  be  accom- 
panied with  self-reproach,  nor  followed  by  a  relaxa- 
tion of  effort.  The  assistance  within  his  reach  he 
will  resolutely  decline,  till  his  best  energies  have 
been  put  forth ;  he  has  been  initiated  into  the  habit 
of  applying  himself  to  grapple  with  a  difficulty ;  a 
difficulty  which  appeared  formidable  when  viewed 
at  a  distance,  with  only  a  transient  glance,  has  often 
been  conquered  by  the  first  encounter,  and  in  a 
better  cause  than  that  on  which  the  exclamation  was 
first  made,  he  has  been  prepared  to  say,  Fern,  vi'li, 
vici.  Or  if  a  vigorous,  patient,  and  persevering  in- 
vestigation was  requisite,  he  has  at  length  entered 
into  the  recompense  of  him  who  expressed  the  de- 
light of  no  ordinary  mind,  when  he  exclaimed, 
— '  evprjKa.'" 

SUCTION  XVI. — Expect  no  high  intellectual  attainments 
without  great  labor. 

Labor  is  the  price  at  which  excellence  may  be  at>- 
tained. 

"  Pater  ipse  colendi 

Haud  facilem  esse  viam  voluit,  primusque  per  artem 
Movit  agros,  curis  acuens  mortaiia  cordis." 

There  is  no  more  common  error  than  that  great  men 


70  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

are  great  by  nature,  or  by  chance,  and  not  b/  labor. 
And  whoever  listens  to  the  beautiful  eulogium  pro- 
nounced by  Erskine  upon  one  who  was  undoubtedly 
one  of  the  greatest  philosophers  that  ever  lived; 
"  Newton,  whose  mind  burst  forth  from  the  fetters 
cast  by  nature  upon  our  finite  conceptions ;  Newton, 
whose  science  was  truth,  and  the  foundation  of  whose 
knowledge  of  it  was  philosophy ;  who  carried  the 
line  and  rule  to  the  utmost  barriers  of  creation,  and 
explored  the  principles  by  which,  no  doubt,  all 
created  matter  is  held  together  and  exists;"  who- 
ever listens  to  this,  and  imagines  that  he  discovers 
genius  without  effort  bursting  away  from  the  shackles 
that  bind  other  minds,  and  soaring  unimpeded  to  the 
lofty  summits  of  human  science,  Avill  have  his  ima- 
ginings corrected  by  the  sober  declaration  of  the 
great  philosopher  himself,  who  modestly  declares  his 
success  to  be  the  result  of  "  patient  thought." 

The  remarks  of  the  gifted  and  lamented  Wirt 
are  much  to  the  point,  and  coming  from  such  a 
source  possess  a  double  value  : — "  Take  it  for  (/ranted 
that  there  is  no  excellence  without  great  labor.  No 
mere  aspirations,  however  urdent,  will  do  the  busi- 
ness. Wishing,  and  sighing,  and  imagining,  and 
dreaming  of  greatness,  will  never  make  you  great. 
If  you  would  get  to  the  mountain's  top,  on  which  the 
temple  of  fame  stands,  it  will  not  do  to  stand  still, 
looking  and  admiring,  and  wishing  you  were  there. 
You  must  gird  up  your  loins,  and  go  to  work  with  all 
the  indomitable  energy  of  a  Hannibal  scaling  the 
\lps.  Laborious  study,  and  diligent  observation  of 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  71 

the  world,  are  both  indispensable  to  the  attainment 
of  eminence.  By  the  former,  you  must  make  your- 
self master  of  all  that  is  known  of  science  and  letters' 
by  the  latter,  you  must  know  man  at  large,  and  par- 
ticularly the  character  and  genius  of  your  country- 
mon.  We  cannot  all  be  FUANKLINS,  it  is  true ;  but 
by  imitating  his  mental  habits  and  unwearied  indus- 
try, we  may  reach  an  eminence  we  shall  never 
otherwise  attain.  Nor  would  he  have  been  the 
Franklin  he  was,  if  he  had  permitted  himself  to  be 
discouraged  by  the  reflection  that  we  cannot  all  be 
Newtons.  It  is  our  business  to  make  the  most  of  our 
own  talents  and  opportunities,  and,  instead  of  dis- 
couraging ourselves  by  comparisons  and  impossibili- 
ties, to  believe  all  things  imaginary  possible,  as,  in- 
deed, all  things  are,  to  a  spirit  bravely  and  firmly 
resolved.  Franklin  was  a  fine  model  of  a  practical 
man,  as  contradistinguished  from  a  visionary  theorist, 
as  men  of  genius  are  very  apt  to  be.  He  was  great, 
in  the  greatest  of  all  good  qualities — sound,  strong, 
common  sense.  A  mere  bookworm  is  a  miserable 
driveler,  and  a  man  of  genius  a  thing  of  gossamer, 
fit  only  for  the  Avinds  to  sport  with.  Direct  your 
intellectual  efforts  principally  to  the  cultivation  of 
the  strong,  masculine  powers  of  the  mind.  Learn 
(I  repeat  it)  to  think — think  deeply,  comprehensively, 
powerfully;  and  learn  the  simple,  nervous  language 
which  is  appropriate  to  that  kind  of  thinking.  Read 
the  legal  and  political  arguments  of  Chief  Justice 
Marshall,  and  those  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  which 
are  coming  out.  Read  them — study  them,  and  ob- 


72  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

serve  with  what  an  omnipotent  sweep  of  thought 
they  range  over  the  whole  field  of  the  subject  they 
take  in  hand,  and  that  with  a  sythe  so  ample  and 
so  keen,  that  not  a  straw  is  left  standing  behind 
thorn.  Brace  yourselves  up  to  these  great  efforts. 
Strike  for  this  giant  character  of  mind,  and  leave 
prettiness  and  frivolity  to  triflers.  It  is  perfectly  con- 
sistent with  these  Herculean  habits  of  thinking,  to 
be  a  laborious  student,  to  know  all  that  books  can 
teach.  You  must  never  be  satisfied  with  the  surface 
of  things,  probe  them  to  the  bottom,  and  let  nothing 
go  till  you  understand  it  as  thoroughly  as  your 
powers  will  enable  you.  Seize  the  moment  of  ex- 
cited curiosity  on  any  subject  to  solve  your  doubts; 
for,  if  you  let  it  pass,  the  desire  may  never  re- 
turn, and  you  may  remain  in  ignorance.  The  habits 
which  I  have  been  recommending,  are  not  merely 
for  college,  but  for  life.  Franklin's  habits  of  con- 
stant and  deep  excogitation  clung  to  him  till  his  latest 
hour.  Form  these  habits  now.  Look  at  Brougham, 
and  see  what  a  man  can  do,  if  well  armed  and  well 
resolved.  With  a  load  of  professional  duties  that 
would,  of  themselves,  have  been  appalling  to  most  of 
our  countrymen,  he  stood,  nevertheless,  at  the  h'iad 
of  his  party  in  the  House  of  Commons,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  set  in  motion  and  superintended  various 
primary  schools,  and  various  publications,  the  most 
instructive  and  useful  that  have  ever  issued  from  the 
British  press,  for  which  he  furnished,  with  his  own 
pen,  some  of  the  most  masterly  contributions,  and 
yet  found  time,  not  only  to  keep  pace  with  the  pro- 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  73 

gress  of  the  arts  and  sciences,  but  to  keep  at  the 
head  of  those  whose  peculiar  and  exclusive  occupa- 
tions these  arts  and  sciences  were.  There  is  a  mo- 
del of  industry  and  usefulness  worthy  of  all  your 
emulation." 

SECTION  XVII. — Be  not  only  willing,  but  desirous,  to  have 
every  defect  in  your  powers,  attainments,  or  productions, 
fully  and  explicitdy  pointed  out. 

"  Give  me  the  friend,"  says  one,  "  who  will  tell  me 
of  my  faults."  We  can  have  no  higher  evidence  of 
the  sincerity  of  a  professed  friend's  regard,  than  that, 
on  suitable  occasions  and  in  a  proper  spirit,  he  will 
tell  us  of  our  faults,  so  that  we  may  improve.  But 
this  is  a  matter  of  great  delicacy  and  of  extreme 
difficulty.  The  reproved  are  extremely  liable  to 
mistake  the  motives  of  the  reprover,  so  that  the  very 
faithfulness  of  friends  sometimes  begets  distrust  and 
ill-will.  He,  however,  who  is  deeply  solicitous  as  to 
his  moral  and  intellectual  growth,  will  neither  over- 
look nor  slight  the  intimations  of  his  defects,  whether 
they  spring  from  friendship  or  envy.  "  The  dis- 
closure may  be  unwelcome,  it  may  be  even  unex- 
pected, but  it  will  be  salutary.  It  may  be  conducive 
to  the  interests  as  well  of  intellectual  as  moral  cul- 
ture. A  capacity  that  appears  contracted  may  be 
further  developed,  may  be  greatly  expanded ;  attain- 
ments which  at  present  disappoint  expectation  may 
be  considerably  augmented,  and  the  productions, 
which  may  justly  be  regarded  as  unfavorable  spe- 
cimens of  intellectual  effort,  may  supply  materials 


74  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

of  comparison  with  future  exercises,  from  which  may 
be  derived  the  most  cheering  encouragement 

"It  is  one  of  the  many  advantages  arising  from 
association  with  other  students  in  a  public  seminary, 
that  such  defects  are  rendered  apparent  to  the  indi- 
viduals by  whom  they  are  displayed.  The  cultiva- 
tion of  the  understanding  may  doubtless  be  carried 
on  in  the  absence  of  living  instructors,  and  without 
associates  in  study.  Books  may  supply,  in  part,  the 
want  of  tutors,  and  plodding  diligence  may  amass 
stores  of  knowledge  in  the  deepest  seclusion ;  but 
then  the  means  are  wanting,  not  only  of  abridging 
unnecessary  labor,  and  removing  fomiidable  obstruc- 
tions, but  also  of  detecting  those  defects  of  know- 
ledge, and  those  prejudices  of  early  education,  those 
mistaken  notions,  those  injurious  habits,  those  numer- 
ous errors  and  blemishes  of  performance,  which 
might  never  have  been  apparent  to  the  individuals 
themselves. 

"  To  receive  with  docility  and  with  gratitude  the 
exposuVe  of  our  own  defects  and  mistakes,  is  an  at- 
tainment of  no  small  value.  It  has  a  beneficial  in- 
fluence in  restraining  us  from  tliinking  more  highly 
of  our  talents  and  productions  than  we  ought  to  think, 
and  it  renders  even  the  detection  of  our  detects  an 
excitement  to  intellectual  progress,  and  a  means  of 
moral  improvement."  I  have  never  known  a  student 
who  was  restless  and  impatient  while  the  teacher 
was  pointing  out  the  defects  in  his  performance,  un- 
willing to  be  told  of  his  faults  or  to  acknowledge 
them  to  be  faults,  rise  to  any  degree  of  eminence 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  75 

in  a  professional  career;  or,  indeed,  make  any  pro- 
found acquisitions  of  knowledge. 

We  should  be  the  more  willing^  to  receive  such 
corrections  from  the  indispensaiMeness  of  "  self- 
knowledge  "  to  our  success  as  students  and  profes- 
sional men,  and  also  from  its  extreme  difficulty  of 
acquisition.  "  Know  thyself"  was  one  of  the  earliest 
aid  wisest  maxims  of  heathen  philosophy ;  and  even 
now,  few  moral  maxims  are  more  comprehensive 
and  useful.  Thales,  to  whom  its  authorship  is  as- 
cribed, was  accustomed  to  say,  that  "  for  a  man  to 
know  himself  is  the  hardest  thing  in  the  world." 
And  in  after  time  the  precept,  "  Know  thyself,"  ac- 
quired the  authority  of  a  divine  oracle,  was  ascribed 
to  Apollo,  and  written  in  golden  capitals  over  the 
door  of  his  temple  at  Delphos.  Cicero  says  it  was 
considered  divine,  "  because  it  hath  such  a  weight 
of  sense  and  wisdom  in  it,  as  appears  too  great  to  be 
attributed  to  any  man."  And  Plutarch  also  re- 
marks, "  If  it  was  a  thing  obvious  and  easy  for  a 
man  to  know  himself,  possibly  that  saying  had  noi 
passed  for  a  divine  oracle." 

But  while  we  estimate  the  value  of  the  criticism 
of  friends  and  associates  in  assisting  us  to  a  correct 
knowledge  of  our  powers  and  performances,  we 
must  also  have  the  ability  to  distinguish  between 
mere  flatterers,  and  judicious,  faithful  advisers.  To 
seek  correction  and  counsel,  without  discrimination, 
of  every  one  that  happens  to  be  thrown  in  our  way, 
and  to  be  perpetually  changing  our  habits  and  pur- 
suits, or  altering  and  unending  our  productions,  at 


76  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

the  caprice  or  prepossessions  of  each,  is  a  mark  of 
indecision  of  character  that  precludes  the  hope  of 
anything  noble  or  worthy. 

SECTION  XVIII. — Guard  against  those  mental  habits 
which  may  be  eventually,  though  imperceptibly,  prejudicial, 
by  impairing  the  vigor  of  the  mind  or  of  the  body. 

The  idea  seems  to  be  prevalent  that  a  literary  life 
must  necessarily  be  a  short  and  sickly  one.  And  so 
in  too  many  cases  it  is,  but  not  necessarily.  The 
lamentable  fact  is,  that  inattention  to  the  mental 
and  bodily  habits,  in  their  relation  to  health  and 
longevity,  has  carried  down  to  a  premature  grave 
hundreds  of  our  most  promising  candidates  for  fame 
and  professional  usefulness,  and  hundreds  of  others 
live  victims  of  a  disease  that  disturbs  the  balance  of 
the  mental  powers,  disqualifies  them  for  the  prose- 
cution of  any  noble  scheme  of  literary  enterprise,  and 
imbitters  their  whole  lives.  The  history  of  many 
of  the  distinguished  scholars  of  both  the  old  and  new 
world  demonstrates  that  the  mens  sana  in  sane  cor- 
pore  is  not  a  mere  chimera,  but  that  with  due  atten- 
tion to  the  mental  and  bodily  habits  it  may  be  pos- 
sessed ;  nay,  that  a  sound  and  healthy  tone  of  the 
body,  and  even  a  protracted  life,  are  perfectly  con- 
sistent with  the  most  ardent  devotion  to  science. 
Tha  German  scholars  subject  themselves  daily  to 
fifteen  or  sixteen  hours  confinement  and  application 
to  study,  and  yet  as  a  class  are  distinguished  for 
their  longevity.  Heyne  attained  to  the  age  of 
eighty-six ;  Kastner  to  that  of  eighty-one ;  Michaelis 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  77 

to  seventy-four ;  Haller  to  seventy ;  Kant  to  eighty ; 
Jacobi  to  seventy-six ;  Wieland  to  eighty-one ;  and 
Klopstock  to  seventy-nine.  The  average  age  of 
twenty-three  of  the  most  eminent  Italian  scholars,  as 
stated  in  the  American  Quarterly  Register,  is  seventy- 
six  ;  of  fifty-six  of  the  most  eminent  French  scholars, 
is  seventy-seven ;  of  twenty-five  of  the  English, 
is  seventy-three.  The  following  names  are  included 
in  the  above,  namely :  Fontennelle,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  one  hundred ;  Locke  at  seventy-three ;  Roger 
Bacon,  seventy-eight ;  Young,  eighty ;  Warburton, 
eighty-one ;  Newton,  eighty-five ;  and  Halley,  eighty- 
six.  The  longevity  of  the  Scotch  philosophers  is 
equally  remarkable.  Dr.  Reid  reached  the  age  of 
eighty-seven  ;  Adam  Smith,  sixty-seven  ;  Dr.  Camp- 
bell, seventy-seven  :  Robertson,  seventy-two ;  Play- 
fair,  seventy ;  and  Stewart,  seventy-five.  These  facts 
certainly  indicate  that  there  is  no  necessary  con- 
nection between  an  early  death  and  protracted  and 
ardent  devotion  to  literary  and  scientific  pursuits. 

The  same  general  fact  may  be  inferred  also  from 
the  history  of  some  of  the  most  eminent  scholars  of  . 
our  own  country.  It  is  said  that  Increase  Mather, 
one  of  the  earliest  and  most  celebrated  scholars  and 
divines  of  our  country,  was  accustomed  to  spend  six- 
teen hours  daily  in  close  application  to  study.  He 
wrote  eighty-five  works,  on  various  subjects ;  and 
yet  attained  to  the  age  of  eighty-five,  having  preach- 
ed sixty-seven  years.  Cotton  Mather,  his  son — of 
whose  laborious  habits  some  idea  may  be  formed 
from  the  fact  that  "  in  one  year  he  preached  seventy- 


78  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

two  sermons,  kept  sixty  fasts  and  twenty  vigils,  and 
wrote  fourteen  books  " — lived  to  the  age  ot  sixty-six, 
and,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  had  published  three 
hundred  and  eighty-two  works,  "  some  of  them  of 
huge  dimensions."  Dr.  Styles  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight,  leaving  behind  him,  as  a  part  of  the  re- 
sult of  his  laborious  life,  "  manuscripts  amounting 
to  more  than  forty  volumes."  Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins 
•was  a  most  indefatigable  student.  "  He  frequently 
devoted  eighteen  hours  per  day  to  study ;  and 
framed  sermons  and  huge  syntagmata  without  num- 
ber;" and  yet  he  lived  to  enter  his  eighty-fourth 
year.  The  celebrated  Dr.  Bellamy,  "  the  first  New- 
England  divine  honored  with  the  doctorate  from 
Britain,"  attained  to  the  age  of  seventy-two.  Sher- 
man and  Witherspoon,  Franklin  and  Jefferson,  the 
two  Adams,  were  profound  thinkers  as  well  as 
laborious  students ;  and  yet  they  all  passed  far  be- 
yond the  ordinary  limits  of  human  life.* 

All  constitutions,  we  admit,  are  not  equally  adapt- 
ed to  sedentary  habits,  or  to  endure  the  burden 
which  mental  labor  imposes  upon  even  the  bodily 
system.  To  effect  a  classification  among  men,  so 
that  those  only  whose  constitutional  tendencies  were 
favorable  should  devote  themselves  to  study,  would 
be  utterly  impracticable ;  this  is  not  attained  even 
in  the  ordinary  branches  of  manual  labor.  Some- 
times, where  there  is  a  physical  system  and  tem- 
perament favorable,  the  disposition  of  mind  is  want- 
ing ;  and  again,  others  will  struggle  on,  ajnid  pain 
*  See  table  at  the  end  of  this  section. 


ACQUISITION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.  79 

and  bodily  infirmity,  sacrificing  everything  else  to 
mental  acquisitions  and  mental  pleasures.  But, 
aside  from  this  want  of  constitutional  adaptation  to 
the  labors  of  the  chosen  pursuit — and  this  is  a  cir- 
cumstance common  to  every  pursuit  in  life — we  are 
disposed  to  attribute  the  premature  fall  of  so  many 
promising  candidates  for  literary  fame  and  useful- 
ness to  improper  and  injurious  mental  or  bodily 
habits. 

Of  the  injurious  mental  habits,  above  referred  to, 
some  may  be  distinctly  specified  : — 

"  1.  Undue  continuance  of  studious  exertion,  and 
mental  excitement. 

"  The  opinion  has  been  publicly  expressed,  by  a 
professor  of  eminence  in  a  modern  university,  that 
no  man  can  apply  his  mind  to  intense  stwly  during 
more  than  six  hours  in  a  day,  without  injury  to  his 
health.  This  opinion,  be  it  remembered,  refers  to 
the  determined  energy  of  mental  application  in  se- 
vere study ;  and  if  to  six  hours  of  serious  study  be 
added  three  or  four  hours  of  such  reading  as  con- 
veys instruction  .without  inducing  any  consciousness 
of  fatigue,  the  student  will  have  made  near  ap- 
proaches to  that  line,  beyond  which  to  trespass 
is  compatible  with  neither  safety  nor  with 
duty." 

Sir  Edward  Coke,  pre-eminent  in  legal  know 
ledge,  and  whose  works  have  been  denominated 
"  law  classics,"  seems  to  have  expressed  the  rule  for 
the  division  of  his  time,  and  the  distribution  of  liis 
labors,  in  the  following  couplet: — 


80  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

"  Six  hours  to  sleep  ;  in  law's  giave  study  six  ; 
Four  spend  in  prayer  ;  the  rest  on  nature  fix." 

Sir  William  Jones,  justly  celebrated  for  his  learning, 
and  for  the  amiable  virtues  of  hi?  character,  and 
who  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight,  after  having,  in 
addition  to  immense  judicial  labor,  mastered  twenty- 
eight  languages,  and  written  works,  including  poems, 
translations,  philological  essays,  digests  of  Hindoo 
and  Mohammedan  laws,  &c.,  forming,  when  collect- 
ed, twelve  volumes,  thus  paraphrased  these  lines  of 
Coke,  and  then  adopted  them  as  the  rule  for  the 
regulation  of  his  time  and  studies : — 

"  Six  hours  to  law,  to  soothing  slumber  seven, 
Ten  to  the  world  allot,  and  all  to  heaven." 

"  Let  not  the  young  and  arduous  adventurer  in 
the  path  of  knowledge  imagine  that  by  the  omission 
of  the  hours  due  to  sleep,  and  to  bodily  exercise,  he 
can  be  a  gainer,  on  the  whole.  How  many  distress- 
ing instances  have  there  been  in  which  it  has  too 
plainly  appeared,  that  undue  exertion  and  excite- 
ment have  undermined  even  a  vigorous  constitu- 
tion, and  disqualified  for  the  performance  of  those 
duties  for  which  a  course  of  study  is  the  intended 
preparation !  And  should  these  fearful  evils  not  be 
entailed,  still  it  may  be  shown  that  undue  applica- 
tion defeats  the  object  in  view,  and  proceeds  upon 
principles  of  calculation  altogether  erroneous.  In 
all  intellectual  as  well  as  mechanical  labors  the  work 
accomplished  must  be  in  proportion  to  the  power 
exerted.  But  the  power  which  the  mind  can  put 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  81 

forth  in  any  study  depends  upon  a  variety  of  cir- 
cumstances; among  which  are  to  be  included  its 
freedom  from  exhaustion  and  depression,  and  from 
those  disabilities  to  which  it  will  be  subject  if  the 
health  and  spirits  be  impaired.  No  hesitation  can 
there  be  in  hazarding  the  assertion,  that  in  the  ex- 
periment of  a  month,  or  a  year,  it  will  be  found  that 
the  student  will  accomplish  more  of  intellectual  la- 
bor by  eight  hours  of  daily  study,  with  two  hours  of 
bodily  exercise  and  recreation,  than  he  could  effect 
in  ten  hours  without  such  intermission. 

"  2.  An  undue  eagerness  of  desire  to  complete 
any  performance  within  a  given  time. 

"  The  tranquil  exercise  of  thought  may  be  carried 
on  with  energy  for  a  considerable  time,  without  in- 
ducing mental  weariness,  or  occasioning  effects  in- 
jurious to  health.  Very  different,  however,  are  the 
effects  of  study  when  pursued  witb  any  degree  01 
anxiety  or  perturbation,  and  especially  when  ac- 
companied with  a  restless  and  impatient  eagerness 
to  complete  the  performance,  or  to  accomplish,  in  a 
given  time,  a  certain  task  which  we  have  prescribed. 
There  are,  indeed,  minds  habitually  inclined  to  in- 
dolence, or  to  procrastination,  which  derive  benefit 
from  the  stimulus  arising  from  such  requirement; 
but  when  the  stimulus  arising  from  other  considera- 
tions is  sufficiently  powerful,  that  additional  excite- 
ment may  become  highly  injurious.  They  who  feel 
the  pressure  of  numerous  engagements  are  fre- 
quently too  eager  to  complete  the  literarj  labor  in 
which  they  are  employed,  before  they  proceed  to 
6 


82  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

another  pursuit,  to  which  either  the  plan  of  study  or 
the  call  of  duty  may  require  their  immediate  atten- 
tion ;  and  the  hurried  attempt  will  either,  by  undue 
dispatch,  be  unfavorable  to  the  performance  itself, 
or,  by  the  disquieting  anxiety  induced,  be  injurious 
to  the  corporeal  frame.  It  is  related  of  Mr.  John 
Wesley,  that  when  a  reference,  on  one  occasion, 
was  made  to  his  numerous  avocations,  he  replied : 
'  Though  I  am  always  in  haste,  I  am  never  in  a  hur- 
ry, because  I  never  undertake  more  work  than  I 
can  go  through  with  perfect  calmness  of  spirit.'  .... 

"  3.  An  inability  to  transfer  with  ease  the  atten- 
tion from  one  subject  to  another ;  or,  when  it  is  de- 
sirable, to  unbend  and  recreate  the  mind. 

"  The  love  of  variety,  of  novelty,  and  of  relief 
from  continued  efforts  of  thought,  renders  it  easy  for 
the  undisciplined  mind  to  dismiss  from  its  notice  a 
subject  to  which  its  attention  has  been  directed. 
But  in  proportion  as  habitg  of  fixed  and  persevering 
attention  are  cultivated,  and  feelings  of  interest  in 
the  pursuit  of  knowledge  are  awakened,  it  becomes 
difficult  to  disengage  the  mind,  at  pleasure,  from  any 
subject  of  consideration.  Yet  this  want  of  control 
over  the  thoughts  and  energies  of  the  mind  is  at 
once  unfavorable  to  progress  in  knowledge,  to  the 
enjoyment  of  the  pleasures  of  social  intercourse,  and 
to  that  entire  recreation  of  mind  by  which  it  is  pre- 
pared to  renew,  with  increased  energy,  its  applica- 
tion to  severe  study.  It  is  most  desirable,  for  rea- 
sons sufficiently  obvious,  to  cultivate  variety  and 
cheerfulness  of  disposition ;  and  in  order  to  this,  it  ia 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  8J 

of  no  small  importance  to  be  able  to  withdraw  the 
mind,  at  pleasure,  from  pursuits,  which  by  their  con- 
tinuance occasion  fatigue  and  abstraction,  and  yield 
to  the  full  impression  of  surrounding  objects,  or  of 
enlivening  conversation." 


NOTE. SEE  PAGE  78. 

The  following  table,  which  we  have  compiled  with 
some  care,  though  it  may  not  be  free  from  error,  will,  in 
itself,  afford  a  useful  and  instructive  lesson. 

TABLE. 

Name.                                        Born.                Died.  *.ge. 

B.  C  B.  C. 

Thales                                     640                548  92 

Solon                                      630                561  69 

Anaximander                        611                 547  64 

Pythagoras                             586                497  89 

Siraonides                              558                470  88 

Confucius                                 550                 477  73 

Anaxagoras                             500                 428  72 

Socrates                                  469                400  69 

Xenophon                               450                360  90 

Plato                                         430                 348  82 

Aristotle                                  384                 322  62 

Thcophrastus                         371                286  85 

Archimedes                            287                212  74 

Cicero                                      106                  43  63 

A.  D 

Seneca                2       65  67 

Josephus          A.  D.  37        95  58 


64  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 


Name. 

Quintilian 
Plutarch 

Bom. 
A.  D, 
42 
50 

Died 
A.  D. 
122 
120 

Age. 

80 
70 

Tacitus 

56 

135 

79 

Justin  Martyr 
Origcn 
Augustine 

89 
185 
354 

165 
253 
430 

76 
68 
76 

Bede 

673 

735 

62 

Ahclard 

1079 

1142 

63 

Roger  Bacon 

1217 

1294 

77 

Erasmus 

1467 

1536 

69 

Mac-hiavel 

1469 

1527 

58 

Hugh  Latimer 
Ariosto 

1470 
1474 

1555 
1533 

85 
59 

Martin  Luther 

1484 

1546 

62 

Julius  Caesar  Scaliger 
Melancthon 

1484 
1497 

1558 
1560 

74 
63 

John  Knox 

1505 

1572 

67 

George  Buchanan 
John  Calvin 

1506 
1509 

1582 
1564 

76 
55 

Beza 

1519 

1605 

86 

Montaig-ne 
Josepli  Justus  Scaliger 
Pram-is  Bacon 

1533 
1540 
1561 

1592 
1609 
1626 

59 
69 
65 

Shakspeare 
Campanella 
Ben  Jonson 

1564 
1568 
1574 

1616 
1642 
1637 

52 

74 
63 

Grotiu* 

1583 

1645 

62 

Pocock 

1604 

1691 

87 

Matthew  Hale 

1609 

.       1676 

67 

Jeremy  Taylor 
Lafontaine 

1613 
1621 

1667 
1695 

54 
74 

Blaise  Pascal 

1623 

1662 

39 

ACQUISITION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.  85 


Name. 

JJorn. 

Died. 

Age. 

A.  D. 

A.  D. 

R.  Boyle 

1626 

1691 

65 

Isaac  Barrrw 

1630 

1677 

47 

Archbishop  Tillotson 

1630 

1694 

64 

John  Locke 

1632 

1704 

72 

Puffendorf 

1632 

1694 

62 

Whitby 

1638 

1726 

88 

Increase  Mather 

1639 

1723 

84 

Sir  Isaac  Newton 

1642 

1727 

85 

Leibnitz 

1646 

1716 

70 

Bayle 

1647 

1706 

59 

Prideaux 

1648 

1724 

76 

Rollin 

1661 

1741 

80 

R.  Bentlcy 

1662 

1742 

80 

Cotton  Mather 

1663 

1728 

65 

Lady  llachel  Russel 

1667 

1723 

56 

Dean  Swift 

1667 

1745 

78 

Boerhaave 

•  1668 

1738 

70 

Steele 

1671 

1729 

58 

Addison 

1672 

1719 

47 

Samuel  Clarke 

1675 

1729 

54 

Sherlock 

1678 

1761 

83 

Lardner 

1684 

1768 

84 

Berkeley 

1684 

1754 

70 

Montesquieu 

1689 

1755 

66 

Lady  Montague 

1690 

1761 

71 

Bishop  Butler 

1692 

1752 

60 

Archbishop  Seeker 

1693 

1768 

75 

Warburton 

1698 

1779 

81 

Doddridge 

1702 

1756 

54 

Jonathan  Edwards 

1703 

1758 

55 

John  Wesley 

1703 

1791 

88 

Benjamin  Franklin 

1700 

1790 

84 

MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 


Name. 

Born. 

Died 

Age. 

A.  D. 

A.  D. 

Baler 

1707 

1783 

76 

Buffon 

1707 

1788 

81 

Samuel  Johnson 

1709 

1784 

75 

David  Hume 

1711 

1776 

65 

Hugh  Blair 

1718 

1800 

82 

Samuel  Hopkins 

1721 

1803 

82 

Roger  Sherman 

1721 

1793 

72 

James  Macknight 

1721 

1800 

79 

Robertson 

1721 

1793 

72 

Smollct 

1721 

1771 

50 

Samuel  Adams 

1722 

1803 

81 

Adam  Smith 

1723 

1790 

67 

Blackstone 

1723 

1780 

57 

Immanuel  Kant 

1724 

1804 

80 

Klopstock 

1724 

1803 

79 

Edmund  Burke 

1730 

1797 

67 

Bishop  Home 

1730 

1792 

62 

Bishop  Porteus 

1731 

1808 

77 

Bishop  Horsley 

1733 

1806 

73 

J.  Priestley 

1733 

1804 

71 

Warren  Hastings 

1733 

1818 

85 

Granville  Sharp 

1734 

1813 

79 

James  Beattie 

1735 

1803 

68 

John  Adams 

1735 

1826 

91 

Home  Tooke 

1736 

1812 

76 

St.  Pierre 

1737 

1814 

77 

Sir  William  Herschel 

1738 

1822 

84 

Mrs.  Barbauld 

1743 

1825 

82 

Archdeacon  Paley 

1743 

1805 

62 

Stephen  Mix  Mitchell 

1743 

1835 

92 

Thomas  Jefferson 

1743 

1826 

83 

Mackenzie 

1745 

1831 

86 

ACQUISITION   OK   KNOWLEDGE.  87 

Name.  Born.  Died.  Ago. 

A.  D.  A.  D. 

John  Jay  1745  1829  84 

Benjamin  Kush  1745  1813  68 

Lindley  Murray  1745  1826  81 

Sir  William  Jones  1746  1794  48 

Jeremy  Bentham  1747  1832  85 

Thomas  Scott  1747  1821  74 

John  Aiken  1747  1822  75 

Bcrthellot  1748  1822  74 

La  Place  1749  1827  78 

John  Trtimbull  1750  1831  81 

James  Madison  1750  1836  86 

Dugald  Stewart  1753  1828  75 

Count  Rumford  1753  1814  61 

John  Marshall  1755  1835  80 

Si-hiller  1757  1805  48 

Kotzebue  1761  1819  58 

William  Carey  1761  1834  73 

Samuel  L.  Mitchell  1763  1831  68 

Sir  James  Mackintosh  1765  1832  67 

Madam  De  Stael  1766  1817  51 

S.  T.  Coleridge  1773  1834  61 

Dr.  Thomas  Brown  1777  1820  43 

Robert  Morrison,  D.D.     1782  1834  52 


88  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

SECTION  XIX. — Guard  a/jainst  those  bodily  habits  which 
may  be  prejudicial  to  the  mind  by  impairing  the  health  and 
vigor  of  the  physical  frame. 

We  have  already  endeavored  to  show  that  the  metis 
sana  in  sane  corpore  is  not  a  mere  chimera  of  the 
imagination.  That  it  is  in  ordinary  cases  attain- 
able, is  evident  from  the  long  life  and  good  health 
whict  have  been  enjoyed  by  eminent  scholars  in 
every  age.  In  fact,  "  such  is  the  sympathy  between 
the  mind  and  the  body,  that  when  the  one  is 
diseased  the  other  must  in  a  greater  or  less  degree 
suffer  by  it  The  highest  possible  degree  of  mental 
vigor  cannot  be  attained,  without  a  healthful  state  of 
the  physical  system." 

We  shall  offer  two  suggestions  with  reference  to 
the  preservation  of  bodily  health  while  engaged  in 
literary  pursuits  and  studies. 

1.  BODILY  EXERCISE. — Some  have  supposed, 
nay,  it  is  a  general  impression  upon  the  public  mind, 
that  studious  habits  necessarily  induce  bodily  decline 
and  infirmity.  And  the  premature  decline  of  so 
many  modern  scholars  seem  to  warrant  such  a  con- 
clusion. But  we  are  not  yet  prepared  to  assent  to 
it.  We  look  upon  this  decline  as  resulting  from  thij 
abuse  of  literary  occupation,  and  not  as  its  natural 
consequence.  An  intelligent  writer  on  the  "  Health 
of  Literary  Men,"  affirms  that  "  literary  occupa- 
tion, prudently  conducted,  is  conducive  to  health." 
To  this  position  we  are  more  than  inclined  to  yield 
assent. 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  89 

Let  us  present  the  argument  of  the  author  just  re- 
ferred to.  "  There  must  be  an  equilibrium  between 
the  various  powers  of  the  human  system,  or  the  sys- 
tem cannot  be  completely  sound ;  and  without  the 
exercise  of  these  various  powers,  the  requisite  equili- 
brium cannot  be  preserved.  Mental  exercise,  there- 
fore, is  equally  important  with  muscular,  and  from 
the  proper  union  of  the  two,  results  the  perfect 
health  of  the  whole  man.  Look  at  the  maniac  ; 
his  mind,  though  shattered,  is  active,  often  to  in- 
tensity, and  he  possesses  a  firm,  robust  body.  The 
idiot,  on  the  contrary,  whose  mind  is  torpid  and 
lead-bound,  is  a  creature  of  weaker  nerves  and  more 
languid  frame.  Perhaps  no  class  of  men  whatever 
are  plied  with  more  harassing  mental  action  than 
our  city  merchants,  but  their  necessary  muscular 
action,  preserving  the  necessary  equilibrium  of  the 
system,  gives  them  a  vigor  of  health  to  which  the 
sedentary  are  strangers.  We  have  read  of  a  mer- 
chant in  one  of  the  Swiss  cantons,  who  enjoyed  the 
most  perfect  health  while  engaged  in  the  most  per- 
plexing mercantile  speculations ;  but  at  the  age  of 
forty  transferring  his  mind  from  the  pursuits  of 
commerce  to  the  less  harrowing,  but  more  sedentary, 
pursuits  of  science,  he  fell  a  victim  to  a  disordered 
brain.  Cessation  from  study  and  medical  prescrip- 
tion restored  his  health,  but  a  renewal  of  his  mental, 
unconnected  with  his  former  bodily  exercise,  again 
destroyed  the  equilibrium  between  his  brain  and 
other  organs,  and  of  course  induced  disease.  We 
adduce  these  instances  to  prove  that  study,  however 


90  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

fatal  when  disconnected,  is,  when  connected  with  cot 
poreal  exercise,  beneficial  to  health."  In  accord- 
ance with  the  above  conclusion  is  the  fact  often  ob- 
served by  literary  men,  namely,  that  while  living  in 
mental  and  bodily  industry,  the  vigor  of  the  body  a> 
well  as  of  the  intellect  is  greatly  increased;  but 
while  in  a  state  of  mental  indolence,  the  physical 
system  also  experiences  a  degree  of  lassitude,  and 
is  wearied  by  the  most  trivial  bodily  exertion.  We 
have  proof  also  to  the  same  point  in  the  fact  that 
when  men  retire  from  active  business  pursuits,  or 
mental  occupation,  enervation  of  body  as  well  as 
intellect  soon  succeeds  to  that  mental  indolence  to 
which  they  have  surrendered  themselves. 

The  position  here  assumed  is,  that  study  properly 
conducted,  or  in  other  words,  mental  action,  accom- 
panied with  suitable  muscular  action,  is  conducive  to 
health.  The  philosophy  of  this  principle,  and  the 
danger  of  disconnecting  muscular  with  mental  action, 
is  thus  explained  by  the  writer  from  whom  we  have 
just  quoted.  "  The  exercise  of  any  bodily  organ  is 
attended  with  a  determination  of  the  blood  to  that 
organ.  Ubi  usus,  ibi  affluxus.  Hence  the  exercise 
of  the  brain  in  thought  (for  the  body  is  not  only  the 
receptacle,  but,  the  instrumeut  of  the  mind)  causes 
a  determination  of  the  blood  to  the  brain.  When 
confined  within  proper  limits,  and  preserving  the 
just  equilibrium,  this  determination  of  blood  is  salu- 
tary. But  when  unduly  protracted,  it  often  results 
in  sudden  death ;  and  with  a  more  limited  continu- 
ance, in  vertigo,  epilepsy,  and  a  nameless  train  of 


ACQUISITION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.  91 

ierebral  diseases.  Accordingly  we  find  that  many 
distinguished  scholars  have  expired  in  the  rmOst  of 
iheir  severest  efforts ;  the  professor  in  his  lecture- 
room,  the  divine  in  his  pulpit,  and  the  barrister 
during  his  plea.  For  the  same  reason,  Boerhaave, 
after  an  intense  application  was  deprived  of  his 
sleep  for  six  months,  and  Dugald  Stewart  was  once 
unable  to  attend,  without  mental  aberration,  even  to 
his  own  published  speculations.  The  undue  deter- 
mination, then,  of  the  blood  to  the  brain,  must  be 
prevented  by  the  exercise  of  other  organs  ;  by  walk- 
ing, or  riding,  especially  on  horseback,  or  the  use  of 
the  gymnasium,  or  mechanical  tools.  To  attempt  to 
live  without  such  exercise  is  preposterous ;  how 
much  more  so  to  attempt  to  study  without  it !  What 
if  some  peculiar  constitutions,  inured  by  early  habit 
and  remarkable  abstemiousness  to  an  unnatural 
mode  of  life,  have  dispensed  with  all  recreation  from 
study  and  yet  retained  health  ?  We  are  not  to  be 
governed  by  exceptions,  but  by  the  general  rule." 

As  it  is  less  our  object  to  prescribe  rules  for  the 
preservation  of  health  than  to  show  the  necessity  of 
a  sound  state  of  the  body  in  order  to  the  vigorous 
exercise  of  the  mind,  we  shall  content  ourselves  on 
this  point  with  the  following  pertinent  extract: — 
"  When  our  body  has  its  full  health  and  strength, 
the  mind  is  so  far  assisted  thereby,  that  it  can  bear 
a  closer  and  longer  application ;  our  apprehension  is 
readier ;  our  imagination  is  livelier ;  we  can  better 
enlarge  our  compass  of  thought;  we  can  examine 
our  perceptions  more  strictly,  and  compare  them 


92  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

more  exactly ;  by  which  means  we  are  enabled  to 
form  a  truer  judgment  of  things ;  to  remove  more 
effectually  the  mistakes  into  which  we  have  oeen 
led  by  a  wrong  education,  by  passion,  inattention, 
custom,  example ;  to  have  a  clearer  vieAv  of  trhat  is 
best  for  us,  of  what  is  most  for  our  interest,  and 
thence  determine  ourselves  more  readily  to  its  pur- 
suit, and  persist  therein  with  greater  resolution  and 
steadiness." 

2.  DIET. — Some  degree  of  attention  to  diet  is  in- 
dispensable to  the  preservation  of  a  healthy  and 
vigorous  tone  of  both  the  mental  and  physical  sys- 
tem. And  no  one  can  reasonably  hope  to  make  ex- 
tensive acquisitions  of  knoAvledge,  or  to  put  forth  the 
vigorous  exercise  of  intellectual  power,  unless  he 
possesses  a  moral  dominion  over  his  appetites  and 
passions. 

The  first  and  most  important  consideration  in  re- 
lation to  diet,  is  the  quantity  of  food  taken  into  the 
system.  It  was  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Franklin,  that 
"  since  the  improvements  of  cookery  mankind  eat 
about  twice  as  much  as  nature  requires."  Nearly 
all  medical  authorities  confirm  the  same  opinion. 
That  this  overcharging  of  the  digestive  organs  is  de- 
trimental to  health  is  unquestionable.  And  thus  it 
is,  that  we  find  the  most  celebrated  medical  writers 
attributing  the  greater  portion  of  our  bodily  diseases, 
especially  chronical  complaints  and  the  infirmities 
of  old  age,  to  "  intemperance  in  diet."  The  principle 
on  which  this  overcharging  of  the  digestive  organs 
becomes  detrimental  to  the  health,  is  thus  clearly 


4CQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  93 

stated  by  Professor  Hitchcock  in  his  invaluable 
treatise,  "  Dyspepsy  Forestalled:"— 

"  When  food  is  taken  into  the  stomach,  it  is  con- 
verted into  a  pulpy  mass,  called  chyme.  If  the 
quantity  is  too  great,  this  process  is  of  course  but 
imperfectly  performed,  as  the  gastric  juice  is  not 
sufficient  for  the  whole  work.  The  consequence  is, 
that  imperfect  chyme  will  produce  imperfect  chyle, 
the  second  state  into  which  the  food  passes,  and  im- 
perfect chyle  will  produce  imperfect  blood,  and  im- 
perfect blood  will  produce  morbid  secretions ;  the 
blood  will  be  too  much  in  quantity,  and  poor  in 
quality,  and  hence  the  system  will  be  imperfectly 
nourished.  Nature  must  make  a  great  effort  to  get 
rid  of  the  superabundance  Avith  which  she  is  deluged. 
Hence  she  will  force  through  the  pores  of  the  skin 
fetid  sweats,  and  load  the  alimentary  canal  and 
every  part  of  the  system  with  every  kind  of  morbid 
secretion.  We  see  hence,  why  the  men  who  gor- 
mandize most  are  generally  pale  and  emaciated; 
though  sometimes  the  excess  of  nourishment  is  con- 

O 

verted  into  fat,  which  seems  generally  to  be  a  morbid 
secretion." 

The  numerous  facts  produced  by  the  professor 
coincide  with  the  conclusion  to  which  his  philosophi- 
cal analysis  leads,  namely,  that  a  rigid  government 
of  the  appetite  is  essential  to  life  and  health.  Pytha- 
goras was  accustomed  to  restrict  himself  to  vegetable 
food,  his  dinner  consisting  of  bread,  honey,  and 
water,  and  yet  he  lived  upward  of  eighty-four  years. 
The  early  Christians  who  retired  from  persecution 


94  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

into  the  deserts  of  Arabia  and  Egypt,  allowed  them- 
selves but  twelve  ounces  of  bread  per  day  as  their 
solid  food,  and  water  alone  for  drink,  and  yet  they 
were  characterized  for  bodily  and  mental  vigor,  and 
lived  to  enjoy  both,  often  to  a  great  age.  Thus,  St 
Anthony  lived  one  hundred  and  five  years ;  Jame? 
the  Hermit,  one  hundred  and  four ;  Jerome,  one 
hundred ;  Simon  Stilites,  one  hundred  and  nine ; 
Epiphanius,  one  hundred  and  fifteen ;  and  Romaldus 
and  Arsenius,  each  one  hundred  and  twenty.  Ga- 
len, one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  ancient  physi- 
cians, lived  one  hundred  and  forty  years,  and  com- 
posed between  seven  hundred  and  eight  hundred 
essays  on  medical  and  philosophical  subjects,  and  he 
was  always,  after  the  age  of  twenty-eight,  extremely 
sparing  in  the  quantity  of  his  food.  The  Cardinal 
de  Salis,  archbishop  of  Seville,  Avho  lived  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  years,  was  invariably  sparing  in  his 
diet.  One  Lawrence,  an  Englishman,  lived  one 
hundred  and  forty  years  ;  one  Kentigern,  called  St. 
Mangah,  one  hundred  and  eighty-five ;  Henry  Jen- 
kins, of  Yorkshire,  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine; 
Thomas  Parr,  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  ;  Henrj 
Francisco,  one  hundred  and  forty ;  all  indebted  1o 
their  abstemiousness  and  exercise  for  their  longe 
vity.  Mr.  Galloway,  in  his  work  upon  "  The  Ame 
rican  Rebellion,"  thus  speaks  of  Samuel  Adams: 
"  He  eats  little,  drinks  little,  sleeps  little,  thinks 
much,  and  is  most  indefatigable  in  the  pursuit  of 
his  object.  It  was  this  man,  who,  by  his  superior 
application,  managed  at  once  the  factions  in  Con- 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  95 

gress  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  factions  of  New-Eng- 
land !" 

But  health  and  longevity  are  not  the  only  results 
of  abstemiousness  in  diet.  "  We  are  far,"  says  the 
writer  in  the  Register,  from  -whom  we  have  already 
quoted,  "  we  are  far  from  limiting  the  influence  of 
abstemiousness  to  the  body,  its  effect  on  the  mind 
is  even  more  admirable.  Julius  Caesar,  constitution- 
ally a  profligate,  when  bent  on  some  great  exploit, 
was  accustomed  to  diminish  his  diet  to  an  extent 
truly  marvelous,  and  to  this  diminution  he  ascribed 
the  keen-sightedness  and  eagle  views  which  so  hap- 
pily distinguished  his  mind  in  the  battle  hour.  Simi- 
lar, too,  when  extraordinary  mental  vigor  was  de- 
sired, was  the  abstemiousness  of  Napoleon,  and  ot 
the  recent  commander  of  the  Russian  army.  To 
his  rarely  equaled  moderation  of  diet,  Dr.  Franklin 
ascribed  his  '  clearness  of  ideas '  and  '  quickness  of 
perception ;'  and  considered  his  progress  in  study 
proportionate  to  the  influence  of  his  prudent  temper- 
ance. The  Journal  of  Health  informs  us,  that  while 
Sir  Isaac  Newton  was  composing  his  treatise  on 
Optics,  he  confined  himself  entirely  to  bread  and  a 
little  sack  and  water.  Scarcely  less  rigid  was  the 
abstinence  of  Leibnitz,  when  preparing  some  parts 
of  his  Universal  Language.  We  have  just  taken  our 
eyes  from  the  identical  silver  bowl  which  President 
Edwards  purchased  for  the  express  purpose  of  mea- 
suring his  food.  It  is  an  interesting  relic.  It  con- 
tains about  half  a  pint,  and  he  conscientiously  re- 
ejxicted  himself  at  supper  to  the  chocolate  and  bread 


96  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

which  this  would  contain.  Whoever  had  nad  the 
Memoir  of  President  Edwards,  cannot  but  have 
noticed  his  frequent  resolutions  to  curtail  his  allow- 
ance of  food,  and  his  happy  surprise  at  the  mental 
vigor  which  resulted  from  his  increased  frugality." 
D'Aubigne  relates  of  Luther,  on  the  authority  of 
Melancthon,  that  "  a  little  bread,  a  single  herring, 
were  often  his  only  food.  Indeed,  he  was  constitu- 
tionally abstemious.  Even  after  he  had  learned 
that  heaven  was  not  to  be  purchased  by  abstinence, 
he  often  contented  himself  with  the  poorest  food, 
and  would  go  four  days  together  without  eating  or 
drinking."  It  is  related  also  of  President  Dwight, 
that  he,  during  some  portion  of  his  life,  was  accus- 
tomed to  limit  his  meals  to  twelve  mouthfuls.  Dr. 
Cheyne,  a  celebrated  English  physician,  reduced 
himself  from  the  enormous  weight  of  four  hundred 
and  forty-eight  pounds  to  one  hundred  and  forty,  by 
confining  himself  to  a  limited  quantity  of  vegetables,, 
milk,  and  water,  as  his  only  food  and  drink.  The 
result  was  a  restoration  of  health  and  of  mental 
vigor,  and,  amid  professional  and  literary  labors, 
uninterrupted  health  and  a  protracted  life.  Jeffer- 
son once  made  the  remark,  "  that  nobody  ever  re> 
pented  having  eaten  too  little." 

Having  touched  upon  the  great  evil  in  relation  to 
diet,  it  is  hardly  necessary  that  we  should  enlarge 
upon  other  points,  such  as  the  quality  of  our  food, 
the  time  and  manner  of  eating;  or  to  the  other 
branches  of  bodily  regimen,  such  as  clothing,  sleep, 
&c.  There  is,  however,  one  caution,  which  we  feel 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  97 

bound  to  give,  because  of  its  close  connection  with 
a  healthy  and  vigorous  tone  of  the  intellect.  The 
caution  is  against  an  unbending  uniformity  in  our 
diet.  There  is  much  practical  philosophy  in  the  say- 
ing of  Lord  Bacon  : — "  Let  him  who  would  enjoy 
health,  occasionally  vary  his  course.  Sometimes  let 
him  feast  and  sometimes  let  him  fast,  sometimes  over- 
sleep and  sometimes  watch,  sometimes  walk  and 
sometimes  run ;  yet  let  him  rather  fast  than  feast, 
rather  than  watch  let  him  oversleep,  and  rather  walk 
than  run."  Both  the  body  and  mind  must  become 
in  some  degree  accustomed  to  change,  that  the  indi- 
vidual may  become  in  some  degree  prepared  for  the 
unavoidable  vicissitudes  of  life.  "  When  Cornaro 
was  in  such  a  state,  that  the  addition  to  his  daily 
food  of  two  ounces  of  solid  and  two  of  liquid  aliment 
occasioned  severe  pains,  and  eventually  a  violent 
fever  of  five  weeks'  continuance ;  when  the  philan- 
thropist, Howard,  was  in  such  a  state  that  the  least 
deviation  from  his  rules  of  living  was  a  disease, 
they  were  in  a  state  far  too  artificial  for  this  variable 
world."  While,  then,  on  the  one  hand,  attention  to 
dietetics  and  the  various  economies  of  health  are  in- 
dispensable to  bodily  and  mental  vigor,  and  conse- 
quently to  the  successful  prosecution  of  knowledge, 
a  too  scrupulous  effort  to  "  live  by  rule '  will  be 
found  detrimental  to  both. 
7 


98  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

SECTION  XX. — Let  it  be  your  constant  aim  to  arrive  of 
general  principles, on  all  the  subjects  to  which  your  attention 
is  directed. 

1.  "  Without  the  guidance  of  general  principles,  the 
human  mind  resembles  a  vessel  at  sea,  without  chart, 
or  compass,  or  pilot.  It  must  fluctuate  in  doubt  anil 
uncertainty ;  and,  amidst  the  conflicting  sentiments, 
it  must  be  at  the  mercy  of  almost  every  wind  of 
opinion,  and  unprepared  to  encounter  thft  rising 
wave  of  opposition.  In  every  department  of  human 
knowledge,  whether  of  literature  or  of  science, 
whether  of  reason  or  of  revelation,  there  are  certain 
fixed  principles — certain  general  truths,  from  which 
we  must  set  out  in  our  researches,  and  by  which  we 
must  be  guided  in  our  reasonings.  To  borrow  the 
language  of  Mr.  Locke,  '  There  are  fundamental 
truths  which  lie  at  the  bottom,  the  basis  upon  which 
a  great  many  others  rest,  and  in  which  they  have 
their  consistency.  These  are  teeming  truths,  rich 
in  store,  with  which  they  furnish  the  mind,  and,  like 
the  light  of  heaven,  are  not  only  beautiful  and  enter- 
taining in  themselves,  but  give  light  and  evidence  to 
other  things,  that  without  them  could  not  be  seen 
or  known.  Such  is  that  admirable  discovery  of 
Newton,  that  all  bodies  gravitate  to  one  centre, 
which  may  be  counted  the  basis  of  natural  philoso- 
phy. Our  Saviour's  great  rule — that  ice  should  love 
our  neighbor  as  ourselves — is  also  a  fundamental  truth 
for  the  regulating  of  human  society,  that,  I  think,  by 
that  alone,  one  might  without  difficulty  determine  all 


ACQUISITION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.  99 

Ihe  cases  and  doubts  in  social  morality.  These,  and 
euch  as  these,  are  the  truths  we  should  endeavor  lo 
find  out  and  store  our  minds  with.' — '  We  should 
accustom  ourselves,  in  any  question  proposed,  to  ex- 
amine and  find  out  upon  what  it  bottoms.  Most  of 
the  difficulties  that  come  in  our  way,  when  well  con- 
sidered and  traced,  lead  us  to  some  proposition 
which,  known  to  be  true,  clears  the  doubt,  and  gives 
an  easy  solution  to  the  question.' " 

2.  We  should  not  only  seek  to  arrive  at  general 
principles  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge  ;  but  also  to 
refer  the  knowledge  we  may  have  attained  on  any 
special  subject,  as  much  as  possible,  to  general  prin- 
ciples. That  is,  we  should,  as  far  as  we  can,  classify 
our  knowledge,  and  no  classification  will  prove  so 
beneficial  as  that  founded  upon  the  natural  order 
and  relations  of  things.  The  immense  advantage 
derived  from  generalization  and  classification  in  the 
pursuits  of  knowledge,  whether  scientific  or  moral, 
cannot  be  too  highly  appreciated.  What,  for  in- 
stance, could  be  accomplished  in  botany  or  zoology 
without  analysis  and  classification  ?  When  would 
the  botanist  ever  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  myriads 
of  vegetable  productions,  or  the  zoologist  of  the 
myriads  of  the  animal  creation,  without  some  com- 
prehensive system  of  generalization  ? 

It  is  equally  important,  in  order  to  the  retention 
and  ready  use  of  knowledge  acquired,  that  it  be  re- 
ferred to  general  principles.  The  following  illus- 
tration of  Professor  Upham  is  pertinent : — "  If  a 
lawyer  or  merchant  were  to  throw  all  their  papers 


lOO  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

together  promiscuously,  they  could  not  calculate  on 
much  readiness  in  finding  what  they  might  at  any 
time  want.  If  a  man  of  letters  were  to  record  in  a 
common-place  book  all  the  ideas  and  facts  which 
occurred  to  him,  without  any  method,  he  would  ex- 
perience the  greatest  difficulty  in  applying  them  to 
use.  It  is  the  same  with  a  memory,  when  there  is 
no  classification.  Whoever  fixes  upon  some  general 
principle,  whether  political,  literary,  or  philosophical, 
and  collects  facts  in  illustration  of  it,  will  find  no 
difficulty  in  remembering  them,  however  numerous ; 
when,  without  such  general  principles,  the  recollec- 
tion of  them  would  have  become  extremely  burden- 
some." 

SECTION  XXI. — Be  not  satisfied  with  the  knowledge  you 
have  acquired  on  any  subject  of  investigation,  till  you  can 
express  the  results  of  your  inquiries  and  reflections  in  your 
own  words,  either  in  conversation  or  in  writing. 

"  The  attempt  to  convey  our  ideas  to  others  is  the 
most  satisfactory  test  by  which  we  may  ascertain 
their  correctness  or  inaccuracy — their  completeness 
or  deficiency.  Nothing  is  more  common  than  for 
those  whose  minds  are  undisciplined  to  flatter  them- 
selves that  they  have  a  competent  acquaintance  with 
a  subject,  on  which  their  ideas  are  still  obscure  and 
confused,  and  on  which  they  betray  obscurity  and 
confusion  as  soon  as  they  attempt  the  communica- 
tion of  their  thoughts  to  others.  It  is  therefore  of 
great  importance  in  schools  of  education,  that  an 
adequate  test  should  be  applied  by  the  teacher 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.          ll;  . 

throughout  the  whole  course  of  study,  both  by  insti- 
tuting a  strict  examination  on  the  course  of  reading 
prescribed,  and  by  requiring  frequent  exercises  iu 
composition  on  the  subjects  to  which  attention  has 
been  directed. 

"  On  the  same  principle,  it  would  be  found  highly 
beneficial  were  those  who  are  associated  in  a  studi- 
ous career  to  bring  each  other  to  the  test  by  mutual 
examination,  and  by  conversing  freely  on  points  of 
importance  and  difficulty.  It  would  be  too  much  to 
assert  that  in  every  instance  where  there  is  clear- 
ness of  conception  there  will  be  facility  of  expression, 
since  there  may  be  causes  of  embarrassment  in  the 
attempt  to  convey  ideas  which  do  not  arise  from  the 
obscurity  of  the  ideas  themselves ;  but  when  no  such 
causes  are  in  operation  it  may  be  presumed  that 
confusion  of  language  has  its  origin  in  confusion  of 
thought,  and  that  we  ought  not  to  give  ourselves 
credit  for  a  competent  acquaintance  with  any  sub- 
ject, till  we  can  convey  our  ideas  on  that  subject 
with  precision  and  perspicuity." 

This  ability  to  express  the  results  of  our  reading 
and  reflections  is  to  be  distinguished  from  the  faculty 
of  repeating  memoriter  the  language  of  the  authors 
w,  have  read.  "  A  boy  of  strong  memory,"  says 
Dr  Watts,  "  may  repeat  a  whole  book  of  Euclid, 
yet  be  no  geometer ;  for  he  may  not  perhaps  be  able 
to  demonstrate  one  single  theorem.  Memorino  has 
learned  half  the  Bible  by  heart,  and  is  become  a 
living  concordance,  and  a  speaking  index  to  theolo- 
gical folios,  and  yet  he  understands  little  of  divinity 


102  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

A  well-furijshed  library,  and  a  capacious  memory, 
are  indeed  of  singular  use  toward  the  improvement 
of  the  mind.  But  if  all  your  learning  be  nothing 
else  but  a  mere  amassment  of  what  others  have 
written,  without  a  due  penetration  into  their  mean- 
ing, and  without  a  judicious  choice  and  determina- 
tion of  your  own  sentiments,  I  do  not  see  what  title 
your  head  has  to  true  learning  above  your  shelves." 

SECTION  XXII. — Let  the  love  of  truth  and  knowledge  be 
the  stimulus  that  shall  incite  you  to  the  pursuits  of  know- 


The  motives  and  feelings  that  animate  us  in  enter- 
ing upon  the  pursuits  of  knowledge  are  not  un- 
worthy of  our  attention,  even  in  a  mere  intellectual 
point  of  view.  They  will  have  much  to  do  with  our 
success,  or  want  of  success,  in  giving  true  develop- 
ment to  the  mind. 

Curiosity,  or  desire  of  knowledge,  is  an  implanted 
sentiment  in  the  soul ;  but  it  is  susceptible  of  culti- 
vation. It  may  be  fostered  or  repressed.  Hence 
the  regulation  of  it  becomes  a  moral  duty.  When 
properly  cultivated,  it  constitutes  a  powerful  stimu- 
lus to  intellectual  exertion,  and  at  the  same  time 
imparts  a  pleasure  to  our  intellectual  toil.  Among 
students,  rivalry,  the  ambition  of  attaining  a  high 
grade,  or  bearing  off  the  honors  of  the  class,  may  do 
much  toward  stimulating  intellectual  exertion.  And 
sometimes  the  mind  may,  when  acting  under  the  in- 
fluence of  such  a  stimulus,  insensibly  imbibe  a  love 
for  study ;  but  it  cannot  the  less  be  considered  a 


ACQUISITION    OF   KNOWLEDGE.  103 

motive  unworthy  of  science,  and  one  too  that  is  often 
exceedingly  detrimental  to  the  true  development  of 
mind.  A  student,  who  had  effected  the  solution  of  a 
difficult  problem,  said,  on  presenting  his  solution  to 
D'Alembert,  "  Sir,  I  have  accomplished  this  in  order 
to  gain  a  seat  in  the  academy."  "  You  will  never 
be  worthy  of  one,"  replied  the  philosopher,  "  unless 
you  are  actuated  to  the  pursuits  of  learning  from 
higher  motives." 

A  love  of  truth  in  the  intellectual,  is  like  the  love 
•of  goodness  in  the  moral  world, — an  all-pervading 
and  unceasing  stimulus  to  its  acquisition.  If  ostenta- 
tion, show,  ambitious  rivalry  only,  incite  you,  you 
will  be  very  likely  to  slight  those  portions  of  know- 
lodge  that  do  not  further  these  ends;  and  these, 
perchance,  may  be  the  most  important  portions  of 
the  furniture  of  a  well-disciplined  mind  ;  and  when 
these  motives  are  not  to  be  realized,  the  mind  turns 
aside  from  its  task  in  discouragement,  if  not  in  dis- 
gust But  the  love  of  truth  is  all-pervading  and 
ever-enduring.  It  will  be  ever  present  with  us, 
check  our  haltings,  reprove  our  indecision,  and  pro- 
duce a  combined  and  happy  activity  of  all  our 
powers.  The  mind  will  feel  ample  reward  for  its 
toils  in  the  rich  accessions  made  to  its  knowledge, 

O     » 

and  in  the  equal  development  of  its  powers.  This 
was  the  principle  that  inspired  the  great  intellects 
that  now  adorn  the  intellectual  firmament  of  our 
race.  It  was  the  moving  principle  that  inspired  a 
Locke,  a  Newton,  a  La  Place,  in  their  profound  in- 
vestigations. What  thought  had  they  of  the  busy 


104  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

tongues  of  men  that  should  echo  their  fame,  whilu 
so  absorbed  in  their  communings  with  truth  as  to  be 
forgetful  of  themselves  and  of  the  world  around 
them  ?  High  intellectual  attainments  can  never  be 
reached,  unless  the  mind  be  penetrated  with  a  pro- 
found and  enduring  thirst  for  knowledge. 

SECT-ION  XXIII. —  When  your  plans  are  finished  in  de- 
liberation, let  action  upon  them  be  immediately  com- 
menced. 

If  when  we  have  formed  a  deliberate  purpose  of 
action  we  lack  the  decision  and  energy  to  enter  im- 
mediately upon  its  execution,  it  is  highly  probable 
that  the  plan  will  never  be  executed.  Irresolution 
will  grow  upon  its  victim.  When  the  time  which  he 
had  fixed  upon  for  the  execution  of  his  plans  ar- 
rives, he  will  find  himself,  in  all  probability,  less  in- 
clined to  action  than  at  first;  so  that  the  subject 
will  pretty  certainly  receive  a  second,  and  eventu- 
ally a  final  postponement.  He  who,  after  he  has 
deliberated  and  resolved,  has  not  the  energy  of 
character  to  apply  himself  to  the  subject,  may  de- 
spair of  its  accomplishment. 

Foster,  in  his  essay  on  Decision  of  Character,  has 
some  excellent  hints  and  fine  illustrations  upon  this 
point.  In  making  his  inquiry  into  the  constituents 
of  this  commanding  quality,  he  asserts  that  energy 
of  feeling  is  as  necessary  as  confidence  of  opinion. 
It  is  this  energy  of  feeling  which  secures  action. 
"  This  display  of  systematic  energy  seems  to  indicate 
§  constitution  of  mind  in  which  the  passions  are  com- 


ACQUISITION   OF  K*  OWLEDGE.          105 

mensurate  with  the  intellectual  part,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  hold  an  inseparable  correspondence  with 
it,  like  the  faithful  sympathy  of  the  tides  with  the 
moon.  There  is  such  an  equality  and  connection, 
that  subjects  of  the  decisions  of  judgment  become 
proportionably,  and  of  course,  the  subjects  of  pas- 
sion. When  the  judgment  decides  with  a  very 
strong  preference,  that  same  strength  of  preference, 
actuating  also  the  passions,  devotes  them  with  energy 
to  the  object,  so  long  as  it  is  thus  approved ;  and  this 
will  produce  such  a  conduct  as  I  have  described. 
When  therefore  a  firm,  self-confiding,  and  unalter- 
ing  judgment  fails  to  make  a  decisive  character,  it  is 
evident  that  either  the  passions  in  the  mind  are  too 
languid  to  be  capable  of  a  strong  and  unremitting 
excitement,  which  defect  makes  an  indolent  or  irre- 
solute man ;  or  that  they  perversely  sometimes  coin- 
cide with  judgment,  and  sometimes  clash  with  it, 
which  makes  an  inconstant  and  versatile  man. 

"  There  is  no  man  so  irresolute  as  not  to  act  with 
determination  in  many  single  cases,  where  the  motive 
is  powerful  and  simple,  and  where  there  is  no  need 
of  plan  and  perseverance ;  but  this  gives  no  claim 
to  the  term  character,  which  expresses  the  habitual 
tenor  of  man's  active  being.  The  character  may  be 
displayed  in  the  successive  undertakings,  which  are 
each  of  limited  extent,  and  end  with  the  attainment 
of  their  particular  objects.  But  it  is  seen  to  the 
greatest  advantage  in  those  grand  schemes  of  action, 
which  have  no  necessary  point  of  conclusion,  which 
continue  on  through  successive  years,  and  extend 


106  JIEXTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

even  to  that  dark  period  when  the  agent  himself  ia 
withdrawn  from  human  sight 

"  I  have  repeatedly  remarked  to  you  in  conver- 
sation, the  effect  of  what  has  been  called  a  ruling 
passion.  When  its  object  is  noble,  and  an  enlight- 
ened understanding  directs  its  movements,  it  appears 
to  me  a  great  felicity ;  but  whether  its  object  be  noble 
or  not,  it  infallibly  creates,  where  it  exists  in  great 
force,  that  active,  ardent  constancy,  which  I  describe 
as  a  capital  feature  of  the  decisive  character.  The 
subject  of  such  a  commanding  passion  wonders,  if 
indeed  he  were  at  leisure  to  wonder,  at  the  persons 
who  pretend  to  attach  importance  to  an  object  which 
they  make  none  but  the  most  languid  efforts  to  se- 
cure. The  utmost  powers  of  the  man  are  constrain- 
ed into  the  service  of  the  favorite  cause,  by  this  pas- 
sion, which  sweeps  away,  as  it  advances,  all  the 
trivial  objections  and  little  opposing  motives,  and 
seems  almost  to  open  a  way  through  opposing  im- 
possibilities. The  spirit  comes  on  him  in  the  morn- 
ing as  soon  as  he  recovers  his  consciousness,  and 
commands  and  impels  him  through  the  day,  with 
a  power  from  which  he  could  not  emancipate  him- 
self if  he  would,  When  the  force  of  habit  is  added, 
the  determination  becomes  invincible,  and  seems  to 
assume  rank  with  the  great  laws  of  nature,  making 
it  nearly  as  certain  that  such  a  man  will  persist  in 
his  course  as  that  the  morning  sun  will  rise." 

There  is  a  nobleness  in  this  decisive  spirit,  which 
combines  at  once  decision  of  judgment  and  of  action, 
that  excites  our  wonder  and  admiration.  Even  when 


ACQUISITION    OF    KNOWLEDGE.  107 

we  cannot  approve  of  the  cause  in  which  this  deci- 
sion and  energy  are  enlisted,  we  shall  feel  ourselves 
compelled  to  do  homage  to  the  nobler  traits  of  cha- 
racter ;  but  where  the  cause  merits  our  approval,  we 
shall  not  fail  to  have  excited  the  highest  degree  of 
admiration.  It  was  a  sublime  manifestation  of  this 
spirit  in  the  reply  of  Pompey  when  some  of  his 
friends  endeavored  to  dissuade  him  from  hazarding 
his  life  on  a  tempestuous  sea,  in  order  to  be  at  Rome 
on  an  important  occasion.  "  It  is  necessary  for  me 
to  go ;  it  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  li ve."  Luther, 
when  entreated  by  his  friends  not  to  risk  an  attend- 
ance at  the  Diet  of  Worms,  replied  with  a  calm  de- 
cision, that  forbade  all  further  effort  to  prevent:  "I 
am  called  in  the  name  of  God  to  go,  and  I  would  go, 
though  I  were  certain  to  meet  as  many  devils  in 
Worms  as  there  are  tiles  on  the  roofs  of  its  houses." 
Says  Foster,  "  In  almost  all  plans  of  great  enter- 
prise, a  man  must  systematically  dismiss,  at  the  en- 
trance, every  wish  to  stipulate  for  safety  with  his 
destiny.  Either  they  must  allay  this  fire  of  enter- 
prise, or  they  must  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to 
be  exploded  by  it  from  the  world." 

The  student  would  do  well  to  study  carefully  the 
following  portraiture  of  the  intellectual  character  of 
Howard,  as  drawn  by  the  same  master  hand : — "  The 
energy  of  his  determination  was  so  great,  that  if,  in- 
stead of  being  habitual,  it  had  been  shown  only  for 
a  short  time  on  particular  occasions,  it  would  have 
appeared  a  vehement  impetuosity ;  but  by  being  un- 
intermitted,  it  had  an  equability  of  manner  whicli 


JOS  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

scarcely  appeared  to  exceed  the  tone  of  a  calm  con- 
stancy, it  was  so  totally  the  reverse  of  anything  like 
turbulence  or  agitation.  The  moment  of  finishing 
his  plans  in  deliberation,  and  commencing  them  in 
action,  was  the  same.  I  wonder  what  must  ha\v 
been  the  amount  of  that  bribe,  in  emolument  or 
pleasure,  that  would  have  detained  him  a  week  in- 
active after  their  final  adjustment.  The  law  which 
carries  water  down  a  declivity,  was  not  more  uncon- 
querable and  invariable,  than  the  determination  of 
his  feelings  toward  the  main  object.  The  import- 
ance of  this  object  held  his  faculties  in  a  state  of  ex- 
citement which  was  too  rigid  to  be  affected  by  lighter 
interests,  and  over  which  therefore  the  beauties  of 
nature  and  of  art  had  no  power.  He  had  no  leisure 
feeling  which  he  could  spare  to  be  diverted  among  the 
innumerable  varieties  of  the  extensive  scene  which  he 
traversed ;  all  his  subordinate  feelings  lost  their  sepa- 
rate existence  and  operation,  by  falling  into  the 
grand  one.  His  exclusive  devotion  implied  an  in- 
conceivable severity  of  conviction,  that  he  had  one 
thing  to  do,  and  that  he  would  do  some  great  thing  in 
this  short  life,  must  apply  himself  to  the  work  with 
such  a  concentration  of  his  forces,  as,  to  idle  specta- 
tors who  live  only  to  amuse  themselves,  looks  like 
insanity."  It  is  not  too  much  to  say,  that  the  above 
is  characteristic  of  all  who  have  made  great  attain- 
ments in  knowledge,  and  contributed  largely  to  the 
good  of  mankind. 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  109 

SECTION  XXIV. — Remember  that  mental  discipline  ac- 
quired, can  be  retained  and  improved  only  by  continued 
mental  activity. 

Our  mental,  like  our  bodily  powers,  are  enfeebled 
by  disuse.  The  ardent  prosecution  of  our  studies 
and  investigations  is  the  only  thing  that  can  keep 
alive  the  intellectual  fire,  and  preserve,  unimpaired, 
the  intellectual  vigor.  Those  who  have  retained 
longest  their  intellectual  vigor,  are  those  generally 
who  have  prosecuted  longest  their  literary  and  sci- 
entific pursuits.  Adam  Clarke,  at  the  age  of  three- 
score and  ten,  had  lost  none  of  his  intellectual  fire. 
It  is  said  of  Newton,  that  at  the  age  of  eighty-five, 
he  was  not  only  improving  previous  productions,  but 
also  prosecuting  new  enterprises ;  and  "  Waller,  at 
eighty-two,  is  thought  to  have  lost  none  of  his  poet- 
ical fire."  Some,  late  in  life,  have  entered  upon 
departments  of  study  or  taken  up  languages  entirely 
new  to  them.  In  fact,  most  distinguished  men  who 
have  retained  their  faculties  till  late  in  life,  have 
"  acted  upon  the  principle  of  ever  learning,  and  ever 
coming  unto  the  truth. 

How  many,  after  being  decorated  with  college 
honors,  never  exhibit  a  mental  energy  equal  to  the 
expectation  of  their  friends !  Nay,  how  many  never 
exhibit  after  their  graduation  strength  and  energy  of 
mind  equal  to  that  previously  displayed,  but  soon 
disappear  from  the  theatre  of  intellectual  activity! 
How  emphatic  the  rebuke  of  Rush,  when  hearing  a 
young  man  boast  of  having  completed  his  education ! 


110  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

"  Have  you  ?"  says  the  veteran  student ;  "  well.  I  am 
sixty  years  old,  and  have  not  yet  completed  mine." 
The  point  at  which  an  individual  feels  that  his  educa- 
tion is  completed  is  probably,  however  immature  he 
may  be,  the  point  at  which  improvement  will  cease, 
and  decline  commence. 

SECTION  XXV. — Let  your  mind  be  impressed  irith  tht  much 
to  be  learned,  compared  with  tfie  little  you  know. 

Nothing  is  more  common  than  for  persons  of  small 
powers  of  mind,  and  limited  knowledge,  to  imagine 
themselves  to  be  possessed  of  all,  or  nearly  all,  the 
knowledge  that  is  worth  possessing.  Whereas  those 
of  more  capacious  and  enlightened  minds  are  struck 
with  astonishment  and  wonder  at  the  vastness  of  the 
unknown.  The  chemist,  after  the  mor-t  laborious 
and  prolonged  research — the  astronomer,  after  ex 
ploring  the  remotest  regions  of  the  starry  heavens 
revealed  to  man — the  mental  philosopher,  after  ob- 
serving with  profound  attention,  and  analyzing  and 
comparing  the  phenomena  of  mind — the  theologian, 
after  devout  and  protractr-d  study  into  the  sublime, 
profound  mysteries  of  natural  and  revealed  religion, 
feel  that  they  have  only  just  entered  the  outer  vesti- 
bule of  knowledge.  Such  were  the  feelings  of 
Newton,  when  he  exclaimed,  "  I  do  not  know  what  I 
may  appear  to  the  world ;  but  to  myself,  I  seem  to 
have  been  only  like  a  boy  playing  on  the  seashore, 
and  diverting  myself  in  now  and  then  finding  a 
smoother  pebble,  or  a  prettier  shell  than  ordinary, 
while  the  treat  ocean  of  truth  lay  undiscovtred  before 


ACQUISITION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.  Ill 

•we."  Cicero,  the  great  Roman  orator,  was  a  man 
of  untiring  labor.  Every  known  science  and  every 
branch  of  literature  was  made  tributary  to  his  stir- 
ring eloquence.  Was  it  not  that  something  im- 
mense and  infinite — aliquid  immensum,  mfinitumque 
— which  seemed  perpetually  to  haunt  the  mind  of 
Cicero?  was  it  not  this  that  stimulated  him  to  his 
incessant  and  immense  labors  in  pursuit  of  know- 
ledge ?  In  his  oration  for  Archias,  the  poet,  he 
Iraws  this,  no  doubt,  true  picture  of  himself: — "As 
much  time  as  is  given  to  other  men  for  their  own 
business ;  for  the  celebration  of  festival  days  and 
other  pleasures ;  for  the  repose  of  body  and  mind ; 
for  gaming,  ball,  and  nightly  entertainments;  so 
much  I  appropriate  to  myself,  and  devote  to  these 
studies." 

A  more  serious  obstacle  in  the  way  of  intellectual 
improvement  can  hardly  be  imagined  than  that 
which  exists  in  the  narrow-minded,  self-sufficient 
soul,  which  can  conceive  of  no  valuable  knowledge 
without  the  sphere  of  its  own  attainments.  Such  a 
person  is  not  unlike  the  child  who  imagines  creation 
itself  to  be  bounded  by  its  own  restricted  horizon  ; 
but  its  chance  for  correction,  and  for  obtaining  a 
proper  understanding  of  the  true  boundaries  of  its 
knowledge,  is  not  half  so  great. 

On  the  other  hand,  we  can  hardly  imagine  a 
greater  stimulus  to  intellectual  exertion,  than  be- 
holding this  immense  unknown  gradually  becoming 
subject  to  our  intellectual  dominion.  In  ancient 
literature,  in  science  and  art,  in  philosophy,  in  the 


ill  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

principles  of  morality  and  the  rules  that  regulate 
ordinary  life,  and  especially  in  the  sphere  of  reli- 
gion, how  immense  are  the  fields  of  knowledge,  as. 
yet,  not  subject  to  our  dominion  !  Human  science 
seems  to  have  illuminated  an  inviting,  but  limited 
portion  of  this  wide  range  of  knowledge,  while  all 
beyond  and  around  this  illuminated  spot  spreads 
out  one  vast  unexplored  and  unknown  immense — 
boundless  as  the  dominion  of  God  himself. 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      113 


PART  II. 

MENTAL   DISCIPLINE  WITH   REFERENCE  YO 
THE  COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE. 


SECTION  I. — Remember  that  the  communication  of  know- 
ledge  to  others  is  one  of  the  great  ends  of  its  acquisition, 
and  especially,  is  one  of  the  important  dyects  of  the 
ministerial  profession. 

THE  discipline  of  the  mind  with  reference  to  the 
"  communication  of  knowledge,"  implies  such  a  train- 
ing of  our  faculties,  and  the  acquirement  of  those 
mental  aptitudes,  which  will  enable  us  to  impart  the 
knowledge  we  have  attained,  in  a  lucid,  concise,  and 
effective  manner.  "  The  improvement  of  the  under- 
standing," says  Mr.  Locke,  "  is  for  two  ends :  first, 
for  our  own  increase  of  knowledge ;  secondly,  to  en- 
able us  to  deliver  that  knowledge  to  others."  There 
are  some  kinds  of  soil  that  absorb  thu  dressing  of  the 
cultivator,  but  yield  no  harvest  to  repay  his  toil. 
Not  like  this  should  be  the  mind  Enriched  by 
knowledge,  it  should  bear  fruit — tht,  foliage  should 
spring  up  to  cover  its  barrenness,  the  flowers  should 
blossom  to  delight  the  eye,  and  fill  the  air  with  odor, 
and  fruit  should  mature  to  supply  the  wants  and 
gratify  the  taste.  The  intellectual  miser  is  not  less 
false  to  his  own  interests,  not  less  recreant  to  the 
great  ends  of  intellectual  accumulation,  than  his  pro* 
8 


114  -MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

totype  who  delves  to  gather  that  which  thencefor- 
ward becomes  useless — whose  coffers  are  a  pool  into 
which  the  waters  flow  only  to  stagnate  till  drained 
off  by  death. 

That  the  great  end  of  the  actjuixition  of  know- 
ledge, to  a  public  speaker  especially,  may  ^  attained, 
he  must  be  able  to  communicate.  Especially  is  this 
the  case  in  the  ministerial  office,  the  main  end  and 
design  of  which  office  is  to  communicate  and  enforce 
truth.  Xow,  because  a  man  possess  knowledge,  it 
by  no  means  follows,  as  a  matter  of  course,  that  he 
can  effectively  communicate  it.  The  commu  ica- 
tion  of  knowledge  calls  into  exercise  other  powers 
of  mind,  and  gives  a  different  mode  of  exercise  to  its 
powers  in  general,  than  does  its  acquisition.  The 
water  may  flow  freely  into  the  deep  tank,  while  it 
will  require  the  power  of  the  syphon  or  of  the  forcing- 
pump  to  remove  it.  Professor  Upham  says,  "  Many 
of  the  most  respectable  and  valuable  men  in  our 
legislative  assemblies  are  persons  who  are  rarely 
heard  in  debate  While  they  are  known  to  possess 
reach  of  thought  and  correctness  of  judgment,  they 
exhibit  in  public  discussion  little  more  than  confu- 
sion and  apparent  inability."  Mr.  Jefferson,  at  the 
time  of  the  Continental  Congress,  was  considered  a/ 
forcible  and  lucid  writer,  and  had  the  reputation  of 
science  and  literature ;  and  even  in  Congress  lent 
great  aid  by  his  promptness  and  decision  on  com- 
mittees. And  yet  he  is  declared,  by  one  of  his  illus- 
trious associates,  to  have  been  a  silent  member  of 
that  body.  Mr.  Jefferson,  himself,  makes  a  similar 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       115 

remark  concerning  Washington  and  Franklin.  How 
many  professional  divines,  well  read,  profound  in 
thought,  extensive  in  research,  are  unendurable  and 
almost  unintelligible  in  delivery !  The  legislator 
may  render  great  service  to  his  country  without 
being  an  effective  speaker ;  but,  by  him  whose  voca- 
tion is  that  of  public  speaking,  no  means  should  be 
left  untried  to  make  himself  proficient  in  true  ora- 
tory. 

The  communication  of  knowledge  also  reacts  upon 
the  mind  and  aids  in  its  acquisition. 

"  Thoughts  shut  up  want  air, 
And  spoil,  like  bales  unopen'd  to  the  sun. 
Had  thought  been  all,  sweet  speech  had  been  denied  , 
Speech  !  thought's  canal ;  speech  !  thought's  criterion  too ; 
Thought  in  mine,  may  come  forth  gold  or  dross  • 
When  coin'd  in  word,  we  know  its  real  worth." 

"Thought  too,  deliver'd,  is  the  more  progress'd ; 
Teaching,  we  learn  ;  and  giving,  we  retain 
The  births  of  intellect ;  when  dumb,  forgot. 
What  numbers,  sheatli'd  in  erudition,  lie 
Plunged  to  the  hilts  in  venerable  tomes, 
And  rusted  in,  who  might  have  born  an  edge 
And  play'd  a  sprightly  beam,  if  born  to  speecn. 
If  born  blest  heirs  of  half  their  mother's  tongue  ." 

Knowledge  is  not  half  possessed  unless  it  be  accon»  - 
panied  with  the  power  of  effective  communication. 
It  is  said  to  be  power,  but,  like  money,  it  ceases  to 
be  so  when  not  in  circulation.  In  no  sphere  of  ac- 
tion is  the  power  to  communicate  more  essential 
than  in  -that  of  the  Christian  ministry.  The  mighty 
theme  which  the  profession  contemplates  as  its  sub- 
ject is  interwoven  with  all  science  and  all  knowledge. 


116  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

The  science  of  theology  is  emphatically  the  science 
of  sciences,  encircling  and  comprehending  the  whole. 
Jt  carries  us  back  to  the  antiquity  of  our  race,  and 
requires  of  us  a  knowledge  of  ancient  arts,  manners, 
customs,  history,  and  religion.  It  encircles  ancient 
geography,  poetry,  and  language.  The  fields  of  in- 
tellectual and  moral  science — the  wonders  of  the 
gky  as  developed  in  astronomy — of  the  earth  as  de- 
veloped in  natural  philosophy  and  its  kindred  sci- 
ences— of  our  own  natures  and  powers  as  made 
known  in  physiology — all  lie  within  its  scope.  In  a 
word,  the  science  of  theology  takes  in  the  whole 
man,  social,  moral,  and  immortal ;  it  comprehends 
his  whole  history,  past,  and  future  ;  it  raises  the  con- 
ceptions to  the  throne  of  the  Eternal,  and  bids  us 
study  his  attributes  and  laws !  Within  this  wide 
range,  how  many  subtil  questions  requiring  the 
close-t  scrutiny  and  the  clearest  exposition ;  how 
many  practical  duties  that  require  to  be  developed 
and  enforced ;  how  many  old  and  time-worn  truths 
are  t*>  be  reanimated  and  clothed  with  new  and 
living  light;  and  what  momentous  interests  are  to  be 
asserted  and  vindicated  !  But  the  subtilty  and  mag- 
nitude of  the  truths  are  not  the  only  obstacles  in  thrs 
•way  of  the  Christian  orator.  He  finds,  if  possible,  a 
more  potent  obstacle  in  the  apathy,  the  ignorance, 
and  general  mental  imbecility,  of  those  most  deeply 
interested  in  them.  In  order  to  dispel  that  igno- 
rance, this  apathy  must  be  removed  and  these  sltig- 
giOi  intellects  be  aroused  to  action. 

The  office  of  the  Christian  orator  then  is  twofold, 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      117 


,  to  make  an  impression,  and  to  instruct. 
"  To  make  &n  impression  "  simply  is  insufficient  ;  the 
mind  must  be  instructed  or  nothing  permanent  or 
lasting  will  be  effected.  The  reign  of  Louis  XIV. 
was  signalized  as  an  era  in  the  eloquence  of  the 
French  pulpit.  Bourdaloue,  and  Bossuet,  and  Mas- 
sillon,  and  Fenelon,  often  excited  the  passions  of 
vheir  courtly  audiences  to  the  highest  pitch  by  the 
bold  strokes  and  affecting  appeals  of  their  eloquence. 
But  their  oratory  was  that  of  the  stage,  only  trans- 
ferred into  the  pulpit.  It  was  adapted  to  stage 
effect  ;  the  audience  was  impressed,  the  feelings  ex- 
cited, the  passions  aroused;  but  when  the  tide  of 
feeling  had  passed  over  no  traces  were  left  behind. 
It  is  said  that  even  Massillon  composed  and  prac- 
ticed every  sentence  which  he  uttered  in  his  most 
celebrated  sermons,  and  not  unfrequently  were  they 
announced  for  repetition,  like  a  theatrical  perform 
ance,  and  persons  nocked  to  hear  him,  not  as  a  gos 
pel  minister,  but  as  a.  pulpit  actor,  speculating  upon 
the  manner  in  which  he  would  pronounce  certain 
well-known  passages.  No  wonder  that  under  the 
influence  of  such  preaching,  only  stage  effects  wero 
produced.  "  The  monarch  and  the  court  continued 
as  corrupt  as  ever  ;  they  were  alarmed,  or  they  wept 
for  a  moment,  and  the  next  turned  to  their  follies 
again.  The  eloquence  of  the  preacher  was  heard  as 
the  music  of  one  who  had  a  pleasant  voice,  or  could 
play  well  upon  an  instrument;  but  no  permanent 
impression  was  made.  We  observe  similar  emotions 
produced  by  very  affecting  narratives,  magazine 


118  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

novels,  the  tragic  muse,  nay,  by  music  alone,  with- 
out a  syllable  of  sense.  A  whole  audience  of  any 
kind  may  be  animated,  or  be  made  to  weep,  without 
being  reformed."  But  when  the  appeal  is  made  to 
the  understanding  as  well  as  the  heart,  we  may  rea- 
sonably expect  more  permanent  results,  though  per- 
haps less  powerful  impressions  may  be  made  at  the 
moment  of  delivery. 

Eminent  critics  have  remarked  this  as  the  cha- 
racteristic difference  between  the  eloquence  of  the 
French  and  English  pulpits  ;  that  the  former  seems 
to  be  addressed  more  directly  to  the  passions,  while 
the  latter  is  more  solid  and  plain — powerfully  appeal 
ing  to  the  understanding  and  the  conscience.  The 
results  are  such  as  we  might  have  expected.  In 
England,  the  pulpit  is  the  centre  of  light  and  intelli- 
gence to  the  nation ;  in  France,  the  professor's  lec- 
ture is  the  focus  of  light  and  knowledge,  while  the 
pulpit,  as  a  place  where  instruction  is  to  be  sought, 
is  almost  entirely  overlooked.  In  England,  the  pulpit 
exerts  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  morals  of  the 
people,  forms  their  general  character,  gives  direction 
and  tone  to  their  tastes  and  pursuits ;  in  France,  it  is 
almost  a  nullity.  The  legitimate  object  of  the  min- 
isterial profession,  then,  is  to  instruct  as  well  as  to 
impress,  to  impart  Christian  intelligence  as  well  as 
to  awaken  and  excite  the  emotions. 

The  Christian  minister  is  the  religious  instrui.lor 
ot  the  community.  The  great  body  of  men  are 
busily  occupied  about  the  concerns  of  worldly  busi- 
ness, and  comparatively  few  have  time  to  devote  to 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       119 

die  extensive  study  of  the  truths  and  duties  of  re- 
vealed religion.  Few  have  the  books  and  other  ap- 
pliances necessary  to  enable  them  to  prosecute  such 
investigations  with  any  tolerable  success;  or  if  they 
have  all  these  facilities,  they  are  destitute  of  the 
mental  discipline  that  will  enable  them  successfully 
to  use  them.  Comparatively  few,  in  even  the  most 
favored  communities,  have  those  hab:ts  of  diligent 
investigation  and  patient  thought  that  will  enable 
them  to  thread  the  mazes  of  verbal  criticism,  or  hold 
the  mind  in  contact  with  abstract  truth  till  its  intri- 
cate points  are  clearly  perceived.  This  lack  the 
pulpit  must  supply.  The  Christian  minister,  then, 
must  impart  intelligence  as  well  as  awaken  emotion  ; 
and,  in  order  to  overcome  the  apathy  and  mental  im- 
becility of  the  great  mass,  the  intelligence  he  would 
communicate  must  be,  first,  thoroughly  comprehend- 
ed by  himself,  and  then  clothed  with  all  the  attrac- 
tions and  power  of  an  able  delivery. 

SECTION  II. — Impress  upon  your  mind  the  fact,  ihat  a 
high  order  of  delivery  is  no  less  the  result  of  effort  ind 
cultivation,  than  is  a  high  order  of  intellectual  attainment  in 
any  otlier  respect. 

We  would  not  be  understood  that  a  high  order  ot 
delivery  can  be  attained  by  effort  and  cultivation, 
when  there  are  no  natural  gifts  or  endowments  for 
t.  Our  position  is  simply,  that  however  lavish  na- 
ture may  have  been  in  our  bodily  or  mental  endow- 
ments, the  highest  perfection  of  a  good  delivery 
cannot  be  reached  without  cultivation.  A  barren 


120  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

soil  may  be  unproductive  after  the  highest  cultiva- 
tion ;  and  a  soil  naturally  rich,  uncultivated,  may 
produce  something  ;  but,  cultivated,  will  yield  more. 
In  order  to  attain  the  highest  degree  of  eloquence, 
natural  parts  and  high  cultivation  must  be  combined 
together.  "  One  thing  I  must  premise,"  says  Quin- 
tilian,  in  his  treatise  on  delivery,  "  that,  without  the 
assistance  of  natural  capacity,  rules  and  precepts 
are  of  no  efficacy.  Therefore,  this  treatise  is  no 
more  intended  for  those  who  are  entirely  wanting 
in  capacity,  than  a  treatise  upon  the  improvement 
of  lands  is  applicable  to  barren  grounds.  Besides, 
nature  throws  in  other  aids,  voice,  strength  of  lungs, 
health,  resolution,  comeliness ;  all  of  which  are  im- 
provable by  art,  if  nature  contributes  to  them  but  a 
little ;  though  they  are  sometimes  so  defective,  that 
they  spoil  even  what  is  valuable  in  genius,  and  in 
application." 

The  voice  of  antiquity  is,  that  oral  eloquence  "  is 
unattainable  but  by  art ;  that  it  requires  study,  prac- 
tice, and  imitation."  Quintilian  declares  that  "  the 
longest  life  is  short  enough  to  acquire  it."  The  his- 
tory of  the  celebrated  orators  of  antiquity  fully  con- 
firms this  opinion  concerning  eloquence.  The  his- 
tory of  Demosthenes  is  an  exemplification  of  this 
truth.  We  need  not  repeat  the  story  of  his  diffi- 
dence, of  his  stammering  voice,  or  of  his  early 
failures  in  the  art  of  speaking.  They  sufficiently 
indicate  that  Demosthenes,  whose  fame  as  an  orator 
towers  above  and  overshadows  that  of  all  succeeding 
orators,  was  not,  born  an  orator.  His  retirement 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       121 

from  the  world,  his  shorn  head,  his  subterranean 
cave,  his  declamations  amid  the  deafening  surges  of 
the  sea,  or  in  a  state  of  breathless  exhaustion,  or  with 
his  mouth  filled  with  pebbles,  his  unceasing  effort  to 
produce  distinct  articulation,  the  lessons  of  instruc- 
tion received  from  masters  in  elocution,  all  indicate 
to  us  how  assiduous  and  persevering  cultivation  was 
combined  with  natural  endowment  in  the  production 
of  the  perfect  orator.  He  had  unquestionably,  by 
nature,  those  intellectual  endowments  necessary  to 
constitute  an  orator ;  but,  aside  from  these,  his  elo- 
quence was  the  result  of  cultivation. 

"  It  was  much  the  same,"  says  a  writer  in  the 
Methodist  Quarterly,  "  with  the  great  Roman  orator. 
He  early  studied  elocution  under  Philo,  the  most 
distinguished  of  the  Romans  for  his  eloquence. 
When  he  came  to  the  bar,  however,  he  learned, 
by  experience,  that  even  then  his  voice  had  not 
been  sufficiently  trained ;  it  was  '  harsh  and  un- 
formed,' and,  as  he  became  excited  in  pleading,  it 
always  rose  to  too  high  a  pitch,  so  as  to  endanger 
his  health.  He  therefore  laid  aside  the  business 
of  his  profession,  and  traveled  into  Asia,  and  visited 
the  Island  of  Rhodes,  for  the  express  purpose  of 
perfecting  his  vocal  powers,  and  bringing  his  voice 
to  a  pitch  which  his  constitution  would  bear.  At 
Rhodes  he  studied  under  the  rhetorician  Apol- 
lonius;  and  among  the  rhetoricians  of  Asia  he 
availed  himself  of  the  instructions  of  Xenoeles, 
Dionysius,  and  Menippus.  So  intent  was  he  OB 
his  purpose  that,  according  to  Plutarch,  '  he  suf 


"•22  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

fered  not  a  day  to  pass  without  either  declaiming 
or  attending  the  most  celebrated  orators.'  As  tc 
natural  grace,  in  gesture,  the  same  biographer  says. 
'  that  his  turn  for  action  was  naturally  as  defective 
as  that  of  Demosthenes,  and  therefore  he  took  all 
the  advantage  he  could  from  the  instruction  of  Ros- 
cius,  who  excelled  in  comedy,  and  of  ^Esop,  whose 
talents  lay  in  tragedy.'  Thus  Cicero  labored  to  im- 
prove and  educate  his  natural  powers."  We  may 
well  suppose  that  it  was  upon  the  authority  of  this 
long  and  toilsome  experience  that  he  affirmed,  "  No 
man  is  an  orator  who  has  not  learned  to  be  so." 

"  This  science,"  says  the  same  author  above  quoted, 
'•'•  has  also  been  studied  by  many  of  England's  most 
eminent  orators.  Mr.  Pitt  learned  elocution  under 
the  tuition  of  his  noble  and  eloquent  father ;  and  it 
was  of  one  of  his  speeches  that  even  Fox  could  say, 
'  The  orators  of  antiquity  would  have  admired,  pro- 
bably would  have  envied  it ;'  and,  after  listening  to 
another,  Mr.  Windham  says  of  himself,  that  'he 
walked  home,  lost  in  amazement  at  the  compass,  till 
then  unknown  to  him,  of  human  eloquence.'  The 
ca«e  of  Sheridan  is  a  more  striking  one  still.  To 
adopt  the  language  of  Lord  Brougham :  '  With  a 
position  by  birth  and  profession  little  suited  to  com- 
mand the  respect  of  the  most  aristocratic  country  in 
Europe — the  son  of  an  actor,  the  manager  himself 
of  a  theatre — he  came  into  that  parliament  which 
was  enlightened  by  the  vast  and  varied  knowledge, 
as  well  as  fortified  and  adorned  by  the  most  choice 
literary  fame  of  a  Burke,  and  which  owned  the  con 


COMMUNICATION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.       123 

suminate  sway  of  orators  like  Fox  and  Pitt.  But  he 
had  studied  the  elocution  of  the  stage  ;  his  father  hi  I 
oeen  his  teacher ;  and  although  he  nevei  acquired 
any  great  eminence  as  a  statesman,  yet  Pitt  himself, 
at  one  time,  writhed  under  his  eloquence.  And  it 
was  at  the  close  of  his  celebrated  speech  before  the 
House  of  Commons,  upon  the  Begum  charge,  in  the 
proceedings  against  Hastings,  that  the  practice  of 
cheering  the  speaker  was  first  introduced;  and  it 
was  on  this  occasion  that  Mr.  Pitt,  then  prime  minis- 
ter of  England,  besought  the  house  to  adjourn  the 
decision  of  the  question,  as  being  incapacitated  from 
forming  a  just  judgment  under  the  influence  of  such 
powerful  eloquence.'  Several  of  our  distinguished 
American  orators  also,  it  is  asserted,  are  ever  ready 
to  acknowledge  their  indebtedness  to  the  study  of 
the  principles  of  that  art  which  is  procuring  for 
them  so  rich  a  reward  of  fame.  And  some  of  those 
who  have  been  most  admired,  are  far  from  being 
those  for  whom  nature  has  done  most." 

What  has  here  been  predicated  of  secular  elo- 
quence also  applies  to  sacred.  Natural  and  spiritual 
gifts  may  do  much  for  the  sacred  orator ;  but  culti- 
vation of  his  gifts  only  can  elevate  him  to  the  highest 
summit  of  eloquence.  "  That  prodigy  of  the  pulpit," 
ears  an  essayist  upon  oratory,  "  the  great  and  good 
Wlutefield,  was  probably  never  suspected  by  his 
hearers  of  observing  the  punctilios  of  delivery, 
and  subjecting  himself  to  severe  and  systematic  dis- 
ciplining. Yet  his  late  biographer  assures  us  that 
though  he  always  appeared  so  rapt  and  so  artless  in 


124  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

the  desk,  he  was,  nevertheless,  a  close  student  of 
manner,  and  could  not  attain  his  highest  power  until 
he  had  perfected  the  address  of  a  sermon,  by  thirty 
or  forty  repetitions,  before  his  large  and  excitable 
congregations."  What  is  here  asserted  of  Whitefield 
may,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  be  predicated  of 
the  most  distinguished  pulpit  orators  in  every  age. 

Some  have  supposed  that  art  employed  in  the 
pulpit  to  heighten  the  graces  and  the  effect  of  de- 
livery must  necessarily  conflict  with  the  character 
and  design  of  the  ministerial  office.  Let  the  biogra- 
pher of  Whitefield,  in  his  defense  of  that  pre-emi- 
nent pulpit  orator,  answer  this  objection :  "  Was  that 
spirit  ever  trammeled,  cooled,  or  carnalized,  by 
Whitefield's  attention  to  the  graces  of  pulpit  elo> 
quence  ?  Did  the  study  of  oratoiy  estrange  him 
from  the  closet  ?  or  lessen  his  dependence  upon  the 
Holy  Spirit  ?  or  divert  him  from  living  habitually 
in  the  light  of  eternity  and  the  divine  presence  ? 
No  man  ever  lived  nearer  to  God,  or  approached 
nearer  to  the  perfection  of  oratory.  He  was  too 
devotional  to  be  cooled  by  rules,  and  too  natural  to 
be  spoiled  by  art,  and  too  much  in  earnest  to  win 
souls  to  neglect  system.  He  sought  out  acceptable 
tones,  and  gestures,  and  looks,  as  well  as  '  accepta- 
ble words.'  Was  Whitefield  right?  Then  how 
many,  like  myself,  are  far  wrong  ?  Let  the  rising 
ministry  take  warning  !  Awkwardness  in  the  pulpit 
is  a  sin ;  monotony,  a  sin  ;  dullness,  a  sin ;  and  all 
of  them  sins  against  the  welfare  of  immortal  souls. 
These  have,  be  it  ever  remembered,  too  many  ex- 


COMMUNICATION    OF   KNOWLEDGE.      125 

cuses  already  for  evading  the  claims  of  the  gospel ; 
do  not  therefore  place  yourself,  STUDENT,  among 
their  reasons  for  rejecting  it.  It  is  as  easy  to  be 
graceful  in  gesture,  and  natural  in  tone,  as  to  be 
grammatical.  You  would  not  dare  to  violate  gram- 
mar :  dare  not  to  be  vulgar  or  vapid  in  manner. 
Your  spirituality  of  mind  is  too  low,  and  your  com- 
munion with  God  too  slight,  and  your  love  of  truth 
too  cold,  if  they  can  be  endangered  by  cultivating 
an  eloquence  worthy  of  the  pulpit." 

SECTIOK    III. — As    a     Christian   minister,   consider   the 
close  connection  between  theological  study  and  pulpit  do-    «. 
quence.  *~^ 

A  writer  in  the  Theological  Review  has  very  justly 
said,  that  "  as  the  greatest  masters  of  ancient  elo- 
quence laid  its  foundation  in  a  thorough  study  of  the 
civil  law,  so  must  the  foundation  of  pulpit  eloquence 
be  laid  in  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  Bible.  De- 
mosthenes had  never  rendered  his  eloquence  more 
potent  than  the  arms  of  Philip,  had  he  not  constantly 
attended  the  lectures  of  Plato.  The  name  of  Cicero 
had  never  been  identified  with  that  of  eloquence  it- 
self, had  it  not  been  for  the  walks  of  the  academy ; 
nor  can  any  one  attain  to  great  pulpit  eloquence, 
who  is  not  capable  of  joining  to  the  truths  of  inspired 
writ  the  deepest  results  of  unassisted  reason ;  when 
enlarged  and  varied  study  has  not  endowed  with  an 
affluence  of  ideas,  and  an  elevation  of  sentiment, 
equally  with  the  ready  command  of  appropriate  dic- 
tion." If  we  consider  that  the  true  office  of  the 


126  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

sacred  orator  is  to  enlighten  as  well  as  to  pcrsuadt  to 
impart  the  knowledge  of  the  prc£>undest  and  most 
momentous  truths  as  well  as  to  aix/use  the  energies 
of  the  soul  to  action,  we  shall  rot  fail  to  discover 
thai  a  close  and  intimate  relationship  exists  between 
theological  study  and  pulpit  eloquence. 

This  subject  is  so  fully  and  so  clearly  discussed  in 
.•in  essay  by  Professor  Parke,  that  we  cannot  do 
better  than  present  a  summary  of  his  arguments. 
He  begins  by  showing  the  important  service  which 
theology  renders  to  other  sciences  and  other  arts, 
and  from  these  premises  concludes,  "  it  must  be  pre- 
eminently serviceable  to  the  science  and  the  art  of 
pulpit  eloquence ;  and  the  preacher  must  feel  that 
his  success  in  preaching  depends  not  on  his  graces 
of  delivery,  or  his  beauties  of  style,  so  much  as  on 
his  enlarged  and  familiar  acquaintance  with  the 
principles  of  religion. 

"  1.  Theological  study  conduces  to  the  preacher's 
eloquence,  because  it  conduces  to  his  greatest  vigor 
of  mind  and  heart  If  the  mind  is  strengthened  by 
exercise,  it  must  be  strengthened  by  exercise  on 
themes  of  theology  as  ranch  as  on  other  themes.  If 
it  is  invigorated  by  grappling  with  intricacies  and 
abstrusities,  it  certainly  CUD  fiirl  no  science  so  health- 
ful, as  that  which  must,  from  its  very  nature,  tax  and 
task  the  whole  soul.  The  mathematics  will  yield  to 
theology  in  their  tendency  to  discipline  the  intellect. 
A  distinguished  barrister  of  our  day,  who  has  but 
little  faith  in  evangelical  doctrines,  recommends  to 
his  law-students  the  frequent  perusal  of  the  volume* 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       127 

which  discuss  those  doctrines ;  because  nowhore  else 
can  be  found  such  invigorating  argument  on  such 
elevating  theories.  Indeed,  the  very  allusion  to  the 
ideas  of  God,  eternity,  holiness,  is  sufficient  to  show 
that  whoever  comes  into  contact  with  them  must  be 
intellectually  quickened  and  expanded.  If  intellect- 
ually, still  more  so  morally.  Religious  affections, 
not  less  than  any  other,  are  strengthened  by  exer- 
cise ;  and  these  affections  are  exercised  only  upon 
themes  directly  or  indirectly  theological.  He  who 
communes  with  the  truth  of  God,  employs  the  means 
of  spiritual  growth.  This  truth  has  a  singular  and 
varied  use ;  it  is  the  soul's  sunshine  and  aliment,  its 
rain  and  dew,  and  also  its  shelter  and  resting-place. 
Spiritual  enlargement  results  from  no  study  as  it 
does  from  the  study  of  pulpit  addresses,  and  it  results 
not  from  the  rhetoric  of  these  addresses,  but  from  the 
theology  of  them. 

"  The  vigor  of  mind  and  heart  which  is  gained 
from  doctrinal  investigation,  is  the  mainspring  of 
effective  preaching.  The  eloquence  of  the  pulpit  is 
the  eloquence  of  thought.  A  feeble  mind  can  no 
more  wield  this  thought  than  the  stripling  shepherd 
could  wield  the  armor  of  Saul.  Warmth  of  emotion 
in  the  pulpit  will  not  diffuse  itself  through  the  pews, 
unless  the  great  object  of  that  emotion  be  distinctly 
and  vividly  exhibited,  and  the  preacher  cannot  ex- 
hibit what  he  does  not  fully  possess.  He  cannot 
write  with  interest  and  zeal,  nor  can  he  with  earnest- 
ness and  energy  deliver  what  he  has  written,  unless 
he  understand  and  feel  the  great  bearings  of  his 


128  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

theme.  He  may  goad  up  his  animal  susceptibilities 
to  an  intense  excitement,  he  may  sew  the  air,  and 
distort  his  visage,  and  beat  the  pulpit  cushion,  and 
stamp  his  foot,  and  thunder  with  his  voice,  but  this 
is  not  the  animation  which  hearers  wish  or  want 
Nothing  but  deep  study  ran  impart  the  true,  sober 
energy,  the  considerate,  reasonable  excitement, 
which,  wherever  seen,  is  power.  The  speaker  may 
practice  before  his  mirror,  and  learn  to  raise  his  hand 
gracefully,  and  explode  vowels  forcibly,  but  without 
intense  thought  on  the  matter  of  his  discourses,  all 
the  rules  in  the  world  will  never  make  him  eloquent, 
and  with  this  intense  thought  awakening  emotion,  he 
will  be  eloquent  without  a  single  other  rule.  Other 
rules  are  useful,  they  make  the  body.  This  rule  is 
essential,  it  makes  the  soul.  The  soul  will  live  with- 
out the  body,  the  body  is  putrefaction  without  the 
soul. 

"  2.  Theological  study  increases  the  eloquence  of 
the  preacher,  because  it  gives  him  proper  confidence 
in  himself  and  his  ministrations. 

"  There  is  something  in  the  very  nature  of  theolo- 
gical truth  which  gives  confidence  to  the  preacher. 
It  opens,  enlarges,  and  vivifies  the  mind.  There  i? 
a  clearness  in  truth,  a  directness,  and  a  freshness  in 
it,  which  strangely  disinthralls  the  spirit,  and  givos 
free,  full  scope.  Truth  favors  freedom,  freedom  of 
thought,  freedom  of  speech,  freedom  of  act.  Re- 
vealed by  the  same  God  who  made  the  soul  and  all 
the  laws  of  the  soul,  it  harmonizes  with  these  laws, 
moves  along  with  them  easily  and  happily,  and  jars 


COMMUNICATION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.      129 

with  the  mind  only  when  the  mind  puts  constraint 
upon  itself  and  jars  with  its  own  principles. 

"  Point  to  any  man  who,  in  his  preaching,  is  fet- 
tered with  doubts,  trammeled  with  consciousness  of 
impotency,  moves  with  halting  step,  utters  his  doc- 
trine in  long  periphrases,  and  explains  about  it  and 
about  it,  and,  as  well  he  might,  bespeaks  pity  for  it, 
and  never  thrusts  it  home  with  energy  and  courage 
upon  the  conscience  and  the  heart ;  and  I  strongly 
suspect  the  man  does  not  understand  the  gospel. 
'  You  shall  know  the  truth,'  says  Jesus,  '  and  the 
truth  shall  make  you  free  ;'  and  '  where  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  is,'  says  Paul,  'there  is  liberty.'  I  love 
to  see  the  preacher  deeply  imbued  with  the  im- 
pression that  lie  is  a  moral  being,  and  his  hearers 
are  moral  beings,  and  that  he  must  aim  at  moral 
effects  by  moral  means,  that  he  has  something  to 
do,  and  his  hearers  have  something  to  do,  and  that 
they  must  do  their  duty  immediately,  and  he  must  do 
his  duty  fearlessly ;  for  this  impression  is  in  harmony 
with  actual  fact,  and  he  who  makes  this  impression 
a  part  of  his  soul  '  shall  be  free  indeed.'  But  no 
minister  will  speak  with  that  confidence  which  is 
neither  too  great  nor  too  small,  but  just  right,  unless 
he  have  the  mastery  of  his  subject. 

"  3.  There  is  a  third  mode  in  which  the  minister 
improves  his  eloquence,  by  extensive  theological  in- 
vestigation ;  he  acquires  by  it  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  his  people.  A  bishop,  says  Paul,  'must 
have  a  good  report  of  those  who  are  without ;'  and 
an  orator,  says  Cicero,  must  be  confided  in  as  a  good 
9 


130  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

man,  or  his  oration  •will  exert  but  diminished  influ- 
ence. The  preacher  must  make  objective  as  well  as 
subjective  preparations,  for  the  most  finished  sermon 
will  fall  upon  an  unprepared  audience  as  Priam's 
spear  upon  the  buckler  of  Neoptolemus.  It  is  a  wise 
remark  of  Hooker,  '  Let  Phidas  have  rude  and  ob- 
stinate stuff  to  carve,  though  this  art  do  that  it 
should,  his  work  will  lack  that  beauty  which  other- 
wise in  fitter  matter  it  might  have  had.  He  that 
striketh  on  an  instrument  with  skill  may  cause,  not- 
withstanding, a  very  unpleasant  sound,  if  the  string 
whereon  he  striketh  chance  to  be  incapable  of  har- 
mony.' When  an  audience  depreciate  their  minis- 
ister's  ability  to  instruct  them,  their  very  prejudice 
will  convert  his  eloquence  into  inanity ;  and  more- 
over, he  will  find  it  beyond  his  power  to  attain  such 
eloquence  before  hearers  who  turn  the  cold  shoulder 
to  the  pulpit  as  before  those  who  turn  the  eager  eye 
and  open  breast. 

"  If,  therefore,  the  preacher  aim  at  efficiency  in  the 
pulpit,  he  must  divert  the  power  of  popular  prejudice 
to  his  own  favor,  as  the  skillful  pilot  watches  wind 
and  tide,  so  as  to  be  wafted  along  by  the  same  ele- 
ments that  would  otherwise  resist  him.  The  preacher 
must  appear  to  be  pious  and  intelligent ;  and  the 
only  way  of  appearing  so,  is  to  be  so.  The  bare  be- 
lief that  a  preacher  has  no  excellence  but  tb-'it  of 
elocution,  and  no  grace  but  that  of  attitude,  will 
soon  degrade  his  authority,  while  the  bare  belief  thai 
he  is  a  consummate  theologian  will  invest  his  te^ch 
ings  with  commanding  importance. 


COMMUNICATION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.       131 

"  4.  Theological  study  is  important  for  the  preach- 
er's eloquence,  because  it  secures  to  his  ministrations 
appropriateness  and  varietj.  Appropriateness  de- 
pends upon  variety ;  for  the  wants  of  the  soul  are 
varied,  and  sermons  adjusted  to  these  wants  must 
lie  correspondently  varied.  Not  only  must  divers 
characters  be  diversely  treated,  but  the  same  indi- 
vidual must  have  different  susceptibilities  appealed  to, 
different  emotions  excited,  so  that  the  entire  soul 
may  be  edified.  By  various  instruction  he  will  be 
trained  not  a  Christian  monster,  but  a  Christian 
man.  Is  it  not  a  law  of  intellectual  education  to  ex- 
ercise all  the  faculties  ?  So  it  is  the  law  of  moral 
education  to  exercise  all  the  graces ;  and  they  cannot 
all  be  exercised  by  one  style  of  preaching,  more  than 
nil  the  mental  faculties  by  one  subject  of  study. 
'  Dieteticians  tell  us  that  we  must  have  variety  in 
our  food,  or  lose  vigor  of  body,  and  that  those  tribes 
that  confine  their  diet  to  a  single  article,  however 
nutritious  it  may  be,  are  stunted  and  short-lived. 
What  must  be  the  state  then  of  the  spiritual  system 
which  is  fed  from  some  pulpits,  sabbath  after  sab- 
bath, year  after  year,  by  one  and  the  same  kind  of 
nutriment  ?  It  will  be  thought  so,  but  it  will  not  be 
extravagant  to  say,  that  there  are  ministers  who  dis- 
co urse  nearly  fifty  sabbaths  of  the  year  on  only  two 
or  three  subjects.  AVhatever  their  text,  whatever 
their  introduction,  whatever  their  purpose,  they  slide 
into  the  same  hackneyed  strain.  Their  minds  have 
worn  a  channel  and  flow  into  it  naturally  and  of 
course.  Not  that  they  always  use  the  same  words, 


132  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

or  adopt  the  same  plan,  but  the  whole  genius  of  their 
sermons  is  the  same,  and  losing  the  individual  cha- 
racteristic of  every  doctrine,  they  merge  it  into  one 
tiresome  generality.  A  late  president  of  a  college 
in  New-England,  said  that  he  sat  seventeen  yearg 
under  a  very  pious  preacher,  yet  heard  from  him 
only  four  sermons,  one  thanksgiving  sermon,  one  fast 
sermon,  one  funeral  sermon,  and  one  general  ser- 
mon.' The  force  of  the  above  argument  will  be 
more  fully  seen,  when  it  is  remembered  that  the 
preacher  is  subjected  to  regular  hebdomadel  drafts 
upon  his  intellectual  stores.  To  speak  fluently,  elo- 
quently, effectively,  upon  some  special  occasion,  and 
on  some  set  subject,  requires  not  half  so  high  an 
order  of  talent,  or  half  the  fund  of  knowledge,  as  to 
discourse  eloquently  and  effectively  at  stated  and 
oft-repeated  periods  to  the  same  congregation ;  and 
that  too,  on  topics  with  whose  general  outline  and 
bearings  most  of  the  audience  are  familiar. 

"  5.  Theological  study  is  essential  to  sacred  elo- 
quence, because  it  discloses  the  precise  truths  which 
are  fitted  to  renovate  the  heart.  Tuith  is  God's: 
the  soul  is  God's.  One  being  made  for  the  other,  is 
adapted  to  it.  as  the  tenon  to  the  mortice.  The  sur- 
geon may  as  well  overlook  the  difference  between  a 
scalpel  and  a  forceps,  as  a  preacher  overlook  the 
distinction  between  doctrines,  every  one  of  which 
is  an  instrument  aptly  and  beautifully  shaped  for 
a  special  purpose  ;  and  if  the  surgeon  should  use 
the  saw  when  he  ought  to  use  the  lance,  he  would 
operate  less  harmfully  than  the  preacher  who  apphV? 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       133 

one  doctrine  when  lie  ought  to  apply  another.  If 
God  requires  us  to  use  the  hammer,  we  should  not 
use  the  fire  instead  thereof ;  and  if  he  requires  us  to 
minister  the  oil  of  consolation,  we  should  not,  in  lieu 
thereof,  administer  the  wormwood  of  reproof.  '  It  is 
the  truth  which  the  Spirit  blesses — the  truth  as  it  is ; 
not  half  the  truth,  not  the  whole  truth  with  some  ad- 
ditions, not  maimed  and  distorted  truth,  not  truth 
which  is  involved  in  doubt  and  may  after  all  per- 
haps be  proved  a  lie ;  but  clear,  plain,  prominent 
truth.  This  it  is  which,  because  it  harmonizes  with 
the  commanding  sentiments  of  our  moral  nature,  is 
harmonized  with  by  the  Spirit  in  renovating  that 
nature ;  for  the  Spirit  is  a  God  of  harmony,  and  em- 
ploys no  instruments  which  are  not  congenial  with 
the  feelings  of  the  operator,  and  the  nature  of  the 
agent  operated  upon.  It  is  this  truth,  and  only  this, 
which  the  minister  is  commissioned  to  unfold.  If  ho 
wTould  unfold  it,  he  must  study  it ;  for,  save  in  an 
age  of  miracles,  how  knoweth  any  man  letters,  hav- 
ing never  learned  ?  If  he  do  not  study  it,  he  may 
speak  with  eloquence  indeed,  but  can  never  preach 
with  sacred  eloquence  ;  for  to  speak  is  not  to  preach; 
and  it  is  not  mere  eloquence,  but  sacred  eloquence, 
which  is  adapted  to  secure  the  great  effect  of  preach- 
ing on  the  heart  of  man. 

"  No  other  luminary  than  that  which  God  has 
made  can  enlighten  the  earth;  no  other  doctrine 
than  that  which  God  has  revealed  can  meliorate  the 
heart.  It  is  then  almost  a  truism  to  say  that  lie  who 
would  eloquently  persuade  men  to  godliness,  must 


134  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

make  his  eloquence  a  vivid  presentation  of  the  great 
motives  to  godliness,  and,  as  these  motives  are  all 
involved  in  divine  truth,  he  may,  without  under- 
standing that  truth,  write  elegantly  and  speak  grace- 
fully, but  what  he  writes  will  be  no  sermon,  and  his 
speaking  will  be  a  declamatory  profanation  of  the 
pulpit,  which  is  not  the  orator's,  but  '  the  preachers 
throne,"  and  should  exhibit  nothing  but  the  life  and 
life-giving  spirit  of  evangelical  doctrine. 

"  6.  I  remark,  in  the  last  place,  that  sacred  elo- 
quence depends  essentially  on  theological  study,  be- 
cause this  study  discloses  the  essential  truths  which 
glorify  God.  The  preacher  is  commanded  to  declare 
all  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  to  declare  them  vari- 
ously, explicitly,  thoroughly ;  and  he  who  obeys  this 
command  honors  not  only  the  government,  but  also 
the  character,  of  Jehovah.  To  represent  the  divine 
excellences  so  that  they  may  be  apprehended  is  the 
sacred  eloquence  of  thought ;  so  that  they  shall  be 
loved  is  the  sacred  eloquence  of  feeling;  for,  if  the 
heathen's  remark  be  true,  that  to  know  God  is  to 
glorify  him,  then  to  make  him  known  is  to  glorify 
him  more  extensively ;  and  if  to  make  him  known 
be  glorious  to  him,  to  make  him  loved  is  still  more 
glorious. 

"  Whether  an  audience  adore  or  despise  the  cha- 
racter of  Jehovah,  their  very  apprehension  of  the 
character  will  eventually  honor  it ;  and  their  con- 
tempt even  will  illustrate  the  boundlessness  of  his 
mercy,  or  the  purity  of  his  justice.  It  is  a  thought 
which  may  always  add  solemnity  to  the  preacher's 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       135 

emotion,  and  energy  to  his  eloquence,  that  when  he 
portrays  the  divine  attributes,  his  words,  if  they  be 
understood,  shall  not  one  of  them  be  lost,  but  shall 
for  ever  elicit  new  praise  to  Him  who  maketh  even 
sir  the  occasion  of  new  and  honorable  developments. 
It  this  thought  be  impressive,  there  is  another  still 
more  animating  to  the  faithful  preacher,  that  by  his 
vivid  delineations  of  the  Divinity,  he  may  multiply 
copies  of  that  infinite  perfection  ;  and  by  transfusing 
the  divine  image,  may  call  forth  the  glory  which 
comes  not  barely  from  the  knowledge,  but  also  from 
the  love  and  resemblance  of  God. 

"  A  minister  need  not,  in  these  days,  be  afraid  of 
study.  He  cannot  know  too  much  of  truth.  He 
must  remember  that  all  sacred  rhetoric  is  but  a  new 
arrangement  of  the  materials  of  theology,  and  in 
proportion  to  the  abundance  of  his  materials  may  be 
the  felicity  of  his  selection.  In  vain  will  he  labor  to 
polish  his  discourses,  unless  he  have  given  them  the 
firm,  solid  contexture,  which  is  derived  from  sacred 
science.  Disintegrated  sandstone  cannot  be  polish- 
ed. In  vain  will  he  hope  to  elevate  the  minds  of  his 
hearers  by  fervent  appeal,  unless  he  himself  be  borne 
aloft  by  his  subject,  his  whole  subject,  and  nothing 
but  his  subject;  unless,  I  say,  his  subject  raise  him, 
and  he  be  relieved  from  forcing  his  own  progress 
upward,  like  a  bird  of  prey,  dragging  his  subject 
along  with  him.  In  vain  will  he  decorate  his  style 
with  tropes,  when  his  doctrine,  like  a  poor,  stray 
child,  is  lost  amid  a  forest  of  similes.  A  neat  shroud 
is  very  neat,  and  a  white  fillet  is  very  white ;  but  a 


136  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

carcass  is  still  a  carcass  notwithstanding  the  shroud, 
and  the  vacant  face  is  still  vacant  notwithstanding 
the  fillet  In  vain  will  he  strive  to  impart  a  be- 
coming energy  to  his  sermons,  unless  he  have  that 
tmthusiasm  which  nothing  but  sacred  study  can  in- 
spire ;  an  enthusiasm  which  is  nothing  but  another 
name  for  fervent  love  of  truth,  and  which  is  more 
essential  for  a  preacher  than  even  secular  enthusi- 
asm for  a  secular  orator. 

"  Sacred  eloquence,  then,  which  is  the  power  of 
speaking  so  as  to  glorify  God,  is  the  power  of  speak- 
ing well  on  all  the  truths  of  God,  and  particularly 
on  those  attributes  which  in  themselves  make  up  his 
essential,  and,  in  their  exhibition,  his  declarative 
glory.  As  the  sacred  is  the  top-stone  of  all  elo- 
quence, so  it  ultimately  rests  on  the  broadest  of  all 
bases,  a  complete  theological  science." 

SECTION  IV. — Let  t/ie  dignity  and  importance  of  your 
profession  deeply  impress  your  mind,  and  lead  you  to  set  be- 
Jore  yourself  a  high  standard  of  ministerial  attainment. 

No  other  profession  contemplates  the  accomplish- 
ment of  a  work  so  momentous ;  no  other  affords  so 
wide  a  scope  for  the  exercise  of  high  intellectual  en- 
dowments ;  no  other  presents  such  high  and  enduring 
motives  to  exertion  ;  and  no  other  contemplates,  in 
so  wide  and  extended  a  sense,  the  well-being  of  man. 
He  whose  mind  is  not  deeply  impressed  with  the 
dignity  and  the  importance  of  the  work  to  which  he 
is  called,  is  unworthy  of  it.  And  especially,  when 
we  consider  that  ministerial  qualifications  are  inti- 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       137 

mately  connected  with  ministerial  usefulness,  we 
shall  riot  want  for  high  and  powerful  motives  to  sti- 
mulate us  to  their  attainment  "  Study  to  show  thy- 
self approved  unto  God,  a  workman  that  needeth 
not  to  be  ashamed,"  was  the  direction  of  the  vener- 
able apostle  to  his  son  in  the  gospel.  The  same 
apostle  bids  us  "  covet  earnestly  the  best  gift?." 
There  is  also  a  necessity  for  a  high  order  of  talents, 
that  a  man  may  fulfill  the  important  duties  of  the 
ministerial  office.  It  is  not  merely  to  be  able  to 
stand  in  the  desk  and  wear  away  an  hour  in  miscel- 
laneous harangue,  but  to  grapple  with  profound  truth, 
and  throw  upon  it  the  sun-light  radiance  of  deep 
and  thorough  investigation  ;  it  is  to  grapple  with  dif- 
ficulties and  not  only  overcome  them  ourselves,  but 
to  assist  others  to  do  the  same ;  it  is  to  thread  the  in- 
tricacies of  theological  science,  and  open  its  store- 
house, that  starving  minds  may  be  fed  with  living 
aliment. 

There  is  something  in  the  persevering  efforts  of 
Demosthenes  and  Cicero,  to  reach  that  summit  of 
eloquence  they  had  prescribed  to  themselves,  which 
challenges  our  admiration.  But  how  much  higher 
must  be  that  glow  of  admiration  could  we  see  equal 
exertions  put  forth  for  the  attainment  of  that  divine 
eloquence  that  should  adorn  the  pulpit,  and  give  effi- 
ciency to  its  ministrations  ?  It  will  not  be  dero- 
gating from  the  nature  of  their  office,  nor  from  the 
efficient  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  quickening 
the  truth,  to  say  that  not  only  Whitefield,  but  also 
John  Wesley,  the  distinguished  founder  of  Metho- 


133  AIENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

dism,  were  not  a  little  indebted  to  their  thorough 
knowledge  and  careful  observance  of  the  principles 
of  sacred  eloquence,  for  the  astonishing  effects  of 
their  preaching.  He  that  disregards  means  will  fail 
of  results.  It  is  as  true  in  respect  to  the  attainments 
befitting  the  Christian  ministry,  as  in  regard  to  any 
other  pursuit,  that  "  he  who  aims  at  the  stars,  though 
he  may  not  reach  them,  will  shoot  higher  than  he 
who  elevates  not  his  aim  at  all."  The  sculptor  con- 
ceives his  beau  ideal,  and  then  aims  to  equal  it.  The 
real  statue  may  not  equal  the  ideal,  but  it  wil/  pos- 
sess a  degree  of  perfection  that  would  never  have 
been  reached,  had  not  the  ideal  existed.  So  would 
we  say  to  the  student  in  the  sacred  office,  "  Set  be- 
fore you  a  high  standard  of  ministerial  attainment ;" 
let  effort  to  reach  that  standard  be  put  forth,  and, 
even  though  you  should  fail  to  reach  it,  your  labor 
will  not  be  lost  I  remember  somewhere  reading  the 
description  of  a  picture  representing  a  man  at  the 
base  of  a  huge  mountain,  with  his  hat  and  coat  thrown 
upon  the  ground,  delving  into  the  sides  of  the  moun- 
tain with  a  pick-ax,  while  just  above  him  was  the 
motto,  "  Little  by  little."  Let  this  be  the  device  of 
him  who  would  excel  as  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Slowly  and  amidst  many  discouragements  may  the 
fabric  rise,  but  its  fair  proportions  will  at  length 
shine  forth  in  the  "  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be 
ashamed." 

This  leads  us  to  remark  that  mental  improvement 
is  of  slow  acquisition,  and  that  mind  can  mature 
only  by  its  own  activity.  However  successful  the 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       139 

quack  may  be  in  imparting  a  knowledge  of  his  science 
or  art  in  "  twelve  lessons,"  no  twelve  lesson  system 
can  enlarge  and  discipline  the  powers  of  the. mind, 
or  store  the  understanding  with  varied,  profound, 
and  useful  knowledge.  Mr.  Rollin,  in  his  Belles 
Lettres,  makes  a  quaint  comparison  between  impart- 
ing knowledge  to  the  mind,  and  pouring  water  into 
a  narrow-necked  bottle  :  "  If  we  are  in  a  hurry,  we 
shall  spill  the  liquor  and  defeat  our  purpose,  but  if 
we  pour  a  constant  and  gentle  stream,  we  shall  per- 
fectly succeed."  "  They  must  needs  move  slowly," 
says  Dr.  Skinner,  "  who  would  move  surely  and  suc- 
cessfully up  the  •  hill  of  knowledge ;  it  cannot  be 
ascended  in  a  day,  or  a  month,  or  a  year.  Haste 
does  only  harm;  things  must  have  their  natural 
course,  and  they  who  cannot  wait,  should  cease  all 
expectation,  and  all  hope,  and  betake  themselves  to 
some  other  pursuit.  I  wish  I  could  write  upon  every 
student's  heart  that  beautiful  saying  of  ancient  wis- 
dom, '  Truth  is  the  daughter  of  Time.'  How  many 
hurry  through  books  and  systems,  as  if  rapidity  in 
growth  and  mental  discipline  were  the  same  thing ! 
Not  such  as  these  become  mighty  in  intellectual 
power;  this  is  the  attainment  of  those  sons  of  patience, 
who  pause  a  year,  it  may  be,  on  a  volume  or  a  theory, 
before  they  can  exactly  pronounce  concerning  it 
They  pause  for  reflection,  and  while  they  pause,  life 
springs  up  within  them  with  new  strength ;  their 
minds  grow  apace ;  they  extend  their  views ;  they 
see  the  wide  and  ever-enlarsjing  relations  of  things, 
and  thus  do  they  become  more  instructed  by  con- 


I  10  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

firmed  reflection  on  one  book  or  page,  than  the  othei 
class  of  students  by  the  reading  of  a  lifetime.  The 
human  mind  does  not  otherwise  advance  than  by  the 
exertion  of  its  own  living  power.  Things  exterior 
to  itself  may  favor  its  growth,  but  cannot  make  it 
grow.  Converse  with  books,  and  lectures,  and 
schools,  will  not  suffice.  Knowledge  cannot  be  read 
into  it,  or  lectured  into  it,  or  introduced  into  it,  in 
any  other  way,  except  as  the  mind  itself  draws  it  in 
and  digests  it  by  its  own  patient  thought  and  reflec- 
tion." He  that  would  excel,  then,  must  be  willing 
to  labor  for  excellence.  Would  he  remove  the 
mountain  obstacles  before  him,  like  Luther,  he  must 
"  do  a  little  every  day."  Would  he  attain  to  com- 
prehensive, varied,  and  profound  wisdom,  like  Adam 
Clarke,  he  must  "  intermeddle  with  all  knowledge." 
Would  he  acquire  the  highest  standard  of  sacred 
eloquence,  like  Whitefield,  he  must  not  tire  over 
even  "  thirty  or  forty  repetitions  "  of  his  discourse. 
And  having  secured  all  these  attainments,  would  he 
bend  them  to  the  great  end  of  their  endowment,  like 
Wesley,  he  must  learn  the  art  of  being  always  in  a 
imrry  but  never  hurried,  or  of  so  allotting  and  occu- 
pying his  time  as  "  never  to  lose  a  moment."  With 
an  ordinary  share  of  natural  endowments,  unity  of 
purpose,  combined  with  industry  and  perseverance, 
will  lead  to  the  attainment  of  abilities  and  the  accom- 
plishment of  objects  of  no  ordinary  character  and 
magnitude. 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      141 

SECTION  V. — Let  the  duties  of  your  profession  be  the  ib- 
sorbing  topics  of  your  study  and  interest. 

Those  who  have  been  eminently  successful  in  the 
learned  professions,  or  in  the  cultivation  of  science, 
have  felt  a  strength  of  attachment,  and  been  led  on 
by  an  ardor  of  pursuit,  that  seemed  almost  exclusive. 
This  exclusive  devotion  is  in  many  instances  the 
great  secret  of  professional  success.  Dr.  Brewster, 
than  whom  few  are  more  competent  to  judge,  attri- 
butes that  extraordinary  sagacity  and  success  that 
were  characteristic  of  Newton,  mainly  to  this  cause. 
"  The  flower  of  his  youth  and  the  vigor  of  his  man- 
hood were  entirely  devoted  to  science.  No  inju- 
dicious guardian  controlled  his  ruling  passion,  and 
no  ungenial  studies  or  professional  toils  interrupted 
the  continuity  of  his  pursuits.  His  discoveries  were, 
therefore,  the  fruits  of  persevering  and  unbroken 
study,  and  he  himself  declared,  that  whatever  ser- 
vice he  had  done  to  the  public,  was  not  owing  to 
any  extraordinary  sagacity,  but  solely  to  industry 
and  patient  thought."  "  No  man,"  says  Robert  Hall, 
"  ever  excelled  in  a  profession  to  which  he  did  not 
feel  an  attachment  bordering  on  enthusiasm,  though 
what  in  other  professions  is  enthusiasm,  is,  in  ours, 
the  dictate  of  sobriety  and  truth." 

This  oneness  of  purpose  and  pursuit  keeps  the 
mind  always  alive  to  the  subject,  and  always  on  the 
alert  for  new  acquisitions.  Says  Professor  Ware,  as 
quoted  by  Mr.  Sturtevant,  "  He  that  would  become 


142  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

eminent  in  any  pursuit,  must  make  it  the  primary 
and  almost  exclusive  object  of  his  attention.  It 
must  never  be  long  absent  from  his  thoughts,  and  he 
must  be  contriving  how  to  promote  it  in  everything 
he  undertakes.  It  is  thus  that  the  miser  accumu- 
lates, by  making  the  most  trifling  occurrences  the 
occasions  of  gain  ;  and  thus  the  ambitious  man  is  on 
the  alert  to  forward  his  purposes  of  advancement  by 
little  events  which  another  would  pass  unobserved." 
Thus  must  he  that  would  excel  in  the  execution  of 
his  divine  commission,  lay  everything  under  contri- 
bution to  the  one  great  object.  Does  the  mind 
wander  forth  in  quest  of  other  and  varied  know- 
ledge ?  it  must  be  only  to  return  and  deposit  its 
treasures  within  the  consecrated  circle  of  his  profes- 
sion. All  his  attainments,  whether  in  science,  litera- 
ture, or  theology,  must  be  made  tributary  to  the  one 
grand  and  absorbing  object  of  his  life. 

No  one  man  can  learn  everything,  and  if  any  one 
shall  attempt  it,  he  will  not  only  fail,  but  will  neglect 
to  learn  many  things  that  will  be  of  special  import- 
ance to  him.  Hence  a  selection  must  be  made,  the 
area  of  research  must  be  denned  and  its  boundaries 
fixed.  "  It  is  not  necessary,"  says  Erasmus,  "  that  a 
future  preacher  should  waste  his  energies,  and  spend 
a  life  which  is  brief  and  fleeting,  on  every  kind  of 
subjects ;  even  though  he  should  attain  to  a  good  old 
age,  which  is  a  blessing  conceded  to  but  few  persons. 
But  let  him  first  and  principally  learn  those  things 
which  are  best  adapted  to  the  functions  of  a  preach 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       143 

er."*  When  we  affirm,  then,  that  the  Christian 
minister  should  be  a  man  of  one  book — homo  unius 
libri—vfe  mean,  not  that  he  should  not  look  into,  nor 
study  any  other  book  save  the  Bible,  but  that  all  his 
studies  shall  be  made  to  tend  to  the  one  object,  and 
terminate  in  the  one  direction. 

We  use  the  term  in  the  same  sense  in  -which  Paul 
exhorts  Timothy,  "  Give  thyself  wholly  to  them."  Mr. 
Scott  remarks  upon  this  passage : — "  I  remember  that 
Demosthenes  somewhere  uses  the  same  or  an  entirely 
similar  expression  concerning  himself  and  his  appli- 
cation to  public  affairs;  he  was  always  the  states- 
man ;  his  time,  his  talents,  his  heart,  his  all,  were 
swallowed  up,  as  it  were,  in  this  one  object.  And 
in  fact  no  man  ever  became  very  eminent  in  any 
line  when  this  was  not  his  plan.  It  is  noted  by  some 
writer  concerning  Bonaparte,  that  he  never  went  to 
any  town  or  city,  or  country  new  to  him,  but  imme- 
diately he  was  examining  and  considering  where 
would  be  the  best  place  for  a  castle  or  a  camp,  for 
an  ambushment  or  an  attack,  for  the  means  of  de- 
fense or  annoyance.  Pie  thus,  in  his  line,  entered 
into  the  spirit  of  the  clause  fa  raroif  la-d-i — always  the 
general.  Our  Lord  says  of  himself,  My  meat  is  to  do 
the  will  of  him  that  sent  me,  and  to  finish  his  work, 
and  his  whole  time  and  soul  were  engaged  in  it. 

*  Non  est  necesse  ut  futurus  ecclesiastes  in  quibuslibet  consu- 
mat  operam,  atque  eetatem  qus  fugax  est  ac  brevis,  etiamsi  con- 
tingat  senectus,  quae  non  ita  mnltis  concessa  est :  sed  ea  primum 
ac  potissimum  discat,  quae  ad  docendi  rnunus  sunt  accommodatii 
tuna. — I)e  Arle  Concionandi. 


144  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

The  apostles  say,  We  will  give  ourselves  continually 
to  prayer  and  to  the  ministry  of  the  word"  thus  anti- 
cipating and  giving  practical  exemplification  of  the 
injunction  of  Paul.  In  fact,  the  apostle  himself 
afforded  probably  the  highest  exemplification  of  his 
own  precept  that  the  world  has  ever  witnessed.  All 
the  treasures  of  his  knowledge,  all  the  noble  and 
transcendent  powers  of  his  gifted  mind,  and  all  the 
energies  and  the  pathos  of  that  divine  eloquence 
that  glowed  in  his  breast,  \vere  consecrated  to  the 
mighty  objects  of  his  ministry.  In  the  language  of 
Erskine,  "  Love  to  Christ  set  in  motion  all  his  springs 
of  action,  and  made  him  fly  like  a  flaming  seraph, 
from  pole  to  pole,  to  proclaim  the  ineffable  glories 
of  the  Son  of  God,  and  to  offer  his  inestimable  bene- 
fits to  the  sons  of  men."  The  apostle,  we  may  fairly 
presume,  did  not  exhort  his  disciples  to  "  give  atten- 
tion to  study  "  without  studying  himself,  nor  incite 
others  to  "  covet  earnestly  the  best  gifts,"  without 
coveting  them  earnestly  for  himself,  and  endeavor- 
ing to  acquire  them.  So  must  do  the  Christian 
minister,  if  he  would  succeed  in  his  holy  calling. 
He  must  be  thoroughly  impregnated  with  the  spirit 
of  his  profession  ;  all  his  aims  must  centre  in  it  and 
its  ends;  all  his  acquisitions  must  be  made  ^ributary 
to  the  one  purpose.  To  inspire  this  ardor  within 
him,  motives  higher  than  ever  nerved  the  soul  of 
Demosthenes,  or  sweetened  the  toil  of  Cicero,  are 
laid  before  him — the  salvation  of  men  and  the  favoi 
of  God,  They  were  incited  by  the  desire  of  tem- 
porary good  and  passing  honors,  while  the  pulpit 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      145 

orator  leaves  the  impress  of  his  eloquence  upon  the 
unfolding  scroll  of  eternal  ages,  and  gathers  for  himself 
laurels  to  which  new  lustre  shall  be  perpetually  added. 

SECTION  VI. — Let  ilie.  vigorous  prosecution  of  study  ac- 
company the  discharge  of  public  official  duties. 

Nothing  short  of  this  will  enable  the  Christian  min- 
ister to  preach  to  the  continued  edification  of  his 
hearers.  He  must  continue  to  replenish  his  intel- 
lectual storehouse,  must  fill  up  as  well  as  draw  oflF. 
"  If  the  cask  be  full,"  said  the  good  old  Dr.  Bellamy, 
"  tap  it  when  you  will,  and  the  liquid  will  run  off 
with  a  full  and  steady  stream."  But  barrenness  of 
thought  is  not  the  only  evil  that  will  result  from  a 
neglect  of  this  duty.  By  a  great  law  of  our  nature, 
the  intellect  acquires  sluggishness  and  imbecility  from 
inaction  ;  and  thus  becomes  enfeebled  in  its  strength, 
as  well  as  impoverished  in  its  resources. 

"  The  importance  of  unwearied  assiduity  in  a 
course  of  mental  improvement,  is  evinced  by  the 
contrast  observable  between  different  classes  of  min- 
isters. From  the  observations  and  inquiries  I  have 
made  in  reference  to  the  plans  pursued  by  young 
ministers  after  terminating  their  carreer,  I  liavo 
been  disposed  to  regard  them  m.  forming  two  dis- 
tinct classes,  the  one  class  consisting  of  those  whor 
by  a  course  of  mental  discipline,  are  making  every 
year  progressive  and  obvious  advances  in  their  qua- 
lifications for  public  usefulness  ;  the  other  class  con- 
sisting of  those  who,  year  after  year,  exhibit  the  same 
unvarj  ing  complexion  of  intellectual  character,  with- 
10 


146  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

out  any  perceptible  progress  in  comprehension  of 
mind,  power  of  thought,  or  extension  of  knowledge. 
Their  resources  appear  to  be  exhausted,  their  ser- 
mons, instead  of  presenting  to  their  hearers  '  things 
new  and  old,'  reiterate  ideas,  perfectly  familiar,  in 
forms  of  expression  which  may  be  almost  anticipated. 
It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add,  that  under  such  min- 
istrations but  little  interest  is  excited,  but  little  im- 
pression is  produced.  Indolence  on  the  part  of  the 
minister  produces  torpor  on  the  part  of  the  hearers ; 
or  if  on  their  part  stronger  feelings  are  excited,  they 
are  emotions  of  painful  regret  and  growing  dissatis- 
faction. 

"  On  the  other  hand,  the  diligent  student,  guided 
by  the  noblest  principles,  and  impelled  by  the 
strongest  motives,  is  constantly  adding  to  his  stores 
of  knowledge,  and  his  facilities  for  the  discharge  of 
his  professional  duties.  If  his  direct  preparation  for 
the  pulpit,  rendered  easier  by  the  power  of  habit 
and  the  augmentation  of  his  materials  of  thought, 
demand  a  less  proportion  of  his  time,  he  by  no  means 
contracts  within  narrower  limits  the  efforts  of  his 
mind,  but  delights  in  the  opportunity  afforded  for 
accumulation  of  the  most  important  knowledge.  By 
diligently  pursuing  this  course,  he  must  be  neces- 
sarily increasing  his  ministerial  qualifications,  and 
rising  in  the  estimation  of  the  people  of  his  charge." 

How  extensive  soever  may  have  been  your  course 
of  study  preparatory  to  your  entering  upon  the  min- 
istry, and  however  diligently  and  faithfully  you  may 
have  prosecuted  that  course,  you  have  by  no  mean 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       117 

*  finished  your  studies,"  if  you  would  do  justice  to 
yo  irself  and  to  your  profession.  "  The  foundation 
only  is  laid — the  superstructure  you  have  yet  to 
/•ear.  Only  the  elements  of  knowledge  have  you 
at  present  attained.  Let  these  first  principles  sti- 
mulate, not  satisfy,  your  desire  of  knowledge.  Let 
them  guide,  not  limit,  your  researches.  You  have  in 
some  degree  acquired,  but  you  have  not  yet  matured, 
tlie  intellectual  habits  essential  to  the  due  discharge 
of  the  office  on  which  you  now  enter.  You  are  now 
arrived  to  a  critical  period  in  the  history  of  your 
mind.  It  is  now  to  be  determined,  whether,  in  re- 
spect to  mental  energy  and  attainments,  you  are  to 
remain  stationary  with  self-reproach  and  merited 
disgrace,  or  to  prosecute  with  ardor  a  course  of  un- 
remitted  application  and  honorable  proficiency." 
The  importance  of  this  subject  will  justify  me  in  a 

DIGRESSION, 

CONTAINING  A  FEW  SUGGESTIONS  ON  THE  COURSE 
OF  STUDY  WHICH  IT  IS  ESSENTIAL  THAT  THE 
CHRISTIAN  MINISTER  SHOULD  PURSUE  WITH  A 
VIEW  TO  MENTAL  IMPROVEMENT. 

I  The  daily  study  of  the  Holy  -Scriptures  is  a  pri- 
mary requisition  upon  the  Christian  student.  Some 
have  had  access  to  the  original  tongues  in  which  the 
Scriptures  were  written,  but  others  have  not  enjoyed 
this  advantage. 

1.  Upon  the  former,  I  would  enjoin  the  daily  read- 
ing of  the  Hebrew  Bible  and  the  Greek  Testament. 


148  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

Though  it  should  be  but  a  few  verses  in  each  that 
you  read,  it  will  keep  alive  your  knowledge  of  the 
languages  which  has  been  acquired  with  so  much 
toil,  and  also  extend  your  knowledge  of  the  Sirip- 
tures,  and  maintain  and  improve  your  habits  of 
critical  investigation.  Mr.  Burder  thus  urges  this 
course  upon  his  students  : — 

"  Whatever  may  be  the  limits  within  which  multi- 
plied engagements  may  require  this  to  be  contracted, 
let  it  be  a  part  of  the  business  of  every  day.  In  your 
academic  efforts,  it  may  be  presumed,  you  have  at 
least  conquered  the  most  formidable  difficulties  in 
the  acquisition  of  these  languages.  How  much  to 
be  lamented  would  it  be,  should  you  suspend  your 
application  just  at  the  point  at  which  you  are  about, 
to  receive  the  recompense  of  your  toilsome  initiation  ! 
If  you  make  no  further  progress,  your  past  laboi 
will  be  productive  of  but  little  advantage,  and  if  you 
neglect  the  frequent  and  habitual  reading  of  the 
Scriptures  in  the  original,  you  will  lose  much  of  that 
which  you  have  already  acquired.  Surely  you  ought 
not  to  be  satisfied  without  attaining  a  facility  in  read- 
ing the  Hebrew  Bible  and  Greek  Testament ;  such 
a  facility  as  will  remove  all  temptations  to  neglect 
the  study;  as  will  render  it  easy  to  avail  yourselves 
o<  the  critical  labors  of  others ;  as  will  authorize  you 
to  place  some  confidence  in  your  own  opinion  on 
points  on  which  critics  and  commentators  disagree ; 
and  will  render  the  perusal  of  the  Scriptures  in  the 
original  sufficiently  easy  to  be  adopted  with  advan- 
tage for  the  purpose  of  devotional  improvement" 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       1  19 

2.  Upon  the  latter,  I  would  enjoin  the  daily  road- 
ing  and  critical  examination  of  the  Scriptures  in 
connection  with  some  approved  Commentary.  In- 
deed, I  would  not  have  you  circumscribe  your  read- 
ing to  only  one  Commentary,  however  erudite,  ex- 
rensive,  and  orthodox,  it  maybe ;  but  when  you  have 
completed  the  reading  of  the  Bible  in  connection 
with  one,  immediately  resume  it  in  connection  with 
another,  and  you  will  find  frequent  occasion  to  col- 
late the  notes  of  the  different  commentators,  and 
diligent  pursual  of  this  course  will  secure  to  you  a 
comprehensive  and  profound  knowledge  of  the  Bible. 
None  but  a  shallow  mind — too  shallow  to  make  good 
use  either  of  a  Commentary  or  a  Bible  can  object 
to  the  use  of  Biblical  Commentaries.  As  well  might 
the  lawyer  object  to  the  study  of  Blackstone  or  of 
Story. 

Again,  note  carefully  the  difficult  passages  in  the 
Bible,  acquaint  yourselves  with  the  views  of  the  pro- 
foundest  commentators  on  them,  and  also  devote  to 
them  profound  reflection  and  research.  Beware, 
however,  of  forming  special  theories  for  the  sake  f 
accommodating  these  passages,  or  of  producing  a 
novel  exposition  of  them.  Get  all  the  light  you  can, 
and  never  attempt  to  impart  to  your  hearers  moio 
lighi  than  you  possess.  These  passages  are  not  nu- 
merous, and  a  critical  examination  and  familiar  ac- 
quaintance with  them  will  very  much  facilitate  in 
the  investigation  of  the  other  Scriptures.  And, 
further,  it  will  afford  great  satisfaction  to  the  many 
anxious  inquirers  for  light  upon  these  passages,  if 


150  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

they  can  ascertain  how  much  is  known,  and  how  far 
they  may  expect  to  understand  them. 

H.  "  A  second  course  of  reading  on  which  I  would 
lay  stress,  is  one  of  which  the  leading  object  should 
be  the  extension  of  those  branches  of  knowledge,  for 
which  a  demand  is  chiefly  made  in  the  exercise  ;>f 
your  official  functions. 

"  If  the  senator  should  be  well  versed  in  the  his- 
tory of  his  country,  its  constitution,  and  the  sources 
of  national  prosperity ;  if  the  lawyer  should  be  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  the  system  of  jurisprudence, 
and  the. enactments  of  the  legislature;  if  the  physi- 
cian should  be  well  skilled  in  the  knowledge  of  dis- 
eases and  the  remedies  they  require ;  surely  a  min- 
ister of  religion  should  be  equally  solicitous  to  attain 
an  extensive  and  accurate  acquaintance  with  that 
system  of  truth  which  it  is  the  business  of  his  life  to 
teach  and  to  inculcate.  On  a  great  variety  of  sub- 
jects his  knowledge  must,  of  necessity,  be  super- 
ficial ;  but  on  those  in  which  he  undertakes  to  appear 
in  the  character  of  a  public  instructor,  his  knowledge 
should  be  accurate,  if  not  profound.  With  this  view, 
the  energy  of  his  mind  should  be  directed  to  the 
study  of  revelation ;  nor  can  he  be  deemed  excusable 
unless  he  avail  himself,  to  the  full  extent  of  his  means 
and  opportunity,  of  those  aids  which  are  so  abun- 
dantly supplied,  both  by  ancient  and  modern  writers. 
A  specification  of  the  writers  who  especially  merit 
attention  falls  not  within  the  compass  of  my  present 
design  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  those  which  are  of 
principal  importance  may  be  included  under  the 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       151 

heads  of  Biblical  criticism ;  theology,  polemical  and 
practical ;  Jewish  antiquities ;  ecclesiastical  history ; 
and  works  illustrative  of  oriental  usages  and  Scrip- 
ture allusions.  To  these,  indeed,  I  may  justly  add, 
the  study  of  the  human  mind." 

History,  geography,  and  chronology,  should  be 
added  to  the  above  list,  also  moral  and  political  phi- 
losophy, belles  lettres,  and  the  natural  sciences. 
These  branches  will  furnish  a  wide  circle  of  reading 
and  study,  but  the  labor  judiciously  devoted  to  them 
will  be  amply  repaid. 

III.  "  A  third  course  of  reading  should  be  pur- 
sued with  a  view  to  devotional  excitement,  and  the 
cultivation  of  personal  religion. 

"  Let  it  ever  be  remembered,  that  the  character 
of  the  Christian  is  not  to  be  merged  in  the  official 
avocations  of  the  minister.  A  solicitous  regard  to 
the  interests  of  personal  piety  should  every  day  of 
life  take  the  lead  of  all  other  concerns.  Nor  can  it 
be  supposed  that  the  mind  can  be  duly  qualified  for 
the  spiritual  and  elevated  duties  of  the  Christian 
ministry  unless  the  religion  of  the  heart  be  culti- 
vated with  watchful  care.  In  addition  to  the  devo- 
tional study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  great  advantage 
may  be  derived  from  the  habit  of  allotting  a  certain 
limited  portion  of  time,  every  day,  to  a  course  of 
reading,  for  the  purpose  of  religious  improvement. 
Some  of  the  writings  of  the  old  divines  may  be  read 
with  this  view,  with  incalcuable  advantage;  nor  is 
any  species  of  reading  more  beneficial  in  promoting 
devotional  excitement  and  professional  diligence  than 


152  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

the  biography  of  distinguished  Christi:  us,  and  of 
ministers  eminent  for  piety  and  usefulness." 

IV.  The  minister  should  also  keep  himself  in- 
formed as  to  the  history  and  current  literature  of  his 
own  times. 

We  do  not  mean  that  the  minister  should  enter 
into  all  the  petty  and  universal  details  of  current 
history;  but  on  these  subjects  he  should  keep  him- 
self informed,  and  his  information  will,  in  various 
ways,  become  subservient  to  the  general  objects  of 
his  profession.  Such  information  will  have  a  ten- 
dency to  draw  him  from  the  more  abstract  regions 
of  recondite  learning,  and  make  him  practical.  Nor 
would  I  impose  upon  the  minister  the  task  of  wading 
through  the  oceans  of  literary  trash — in  the  form 
of  novels,  magazines,  poetry,  &c. — with  which  the 
solid  earth  is  literally  inundated.  But  he  must  keep 
an  eye  to  this,  its  character  and  influence. 

Still  there  is  great  danger  of  passing  off  dissolute 
reading  for  study.  On  this  subject  Mr.  Burder  has 
some  appropriate  remarks :  "  Shall  I  render  myself 
liable  to  the  charge  of  indulging  unfounded  and 
illiberal  suspicions,  with  regard  to  any  of  my  bre- 
thren, if  I  venture  to  express  a  fear  that  some  allow 
too  much  of  their  valuable  time  to  be  frittered  away 
in  the  perusal  of  miscellaneous  and  periodical  pub- 
lications ?  These,  judiciously  selected,  may  afford 
interesting  and  advantageous  occupation  for  hours 
of  leisure  and  intervals  of  relaxation  from  serious 
study  ;  but  on  these  the  student  should  not  think 
himself  authorized  to  enter  till,  by  hours  of  applica- 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       153 

don,  he  has  entitled  himself  to  moments  of  leisure. 
Incalculable  and  irretrievable  will  be  the  loss  he  will 
sustain  if  he  allow  his  mornings  and  evenings  to  be 
expended  in  the  perusal  of  light  and  ephemeral  pro- 
diu'tions.  By  no  means  would  I  discourage  an  at- 
tention, duly  limited  and  regulated,  to  the  various 
departments  of  polite  literature.  From  works  of 
taste  and  imagination,  carefully  selected,  the  mind 
may  reap  not  delight  only,  but  improvement.  Poetry, 
eloquence,  and  criticism,  have  their  claims  as  well  as 
their  attractions ;  but  let  the  student  yield  to  their 
attractions  only  in  proportion  to  their  claims,  and  let 
their  claims  be  submitted  to  the  decision  of  an  en- 
lightened judgment,  and  a  conscience  feelingly 
alive." 

V.  With  reference  to  the  reading  of  the  Latin 
and  Greek  classics,  I  would  commend  the  remark 
of  Mr.  Burder  to  the  attention  of  the  classical  stu- 
dent, simply  remarking  that  in  the  Latin  and  Greek 
classics  may  be  found  some  of  the  finest  examples 
for  illustrations,  as  well  as  some  of  the  most  beautiful 
rhetorical  figures ;  but  the  minister  of  Christ  must 
be  wary  of  "classical  allusions"  in  the  pulpit. 

"  The  avocations  of  a  Christian  minister  may  re- 
luce  within  narrow  limits  the  time  which  can  be 
devoted  to  this  object;  but  surely,  if  the  object  be 
of  sufficient  importance  to  justify  the  rank  which 
these  studies  hold  in  every  course  of  liberal  and  pro- 
fessional education,  they  are  entitled,  at  least,  to 
some  allotment  of  time  in  the  subsequent  studies  of 
the  Christian  ministry." 


154  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

DIGRESSION  II. 

OJ.   TUE  MOST  PROFITABLE  MANNER  OF  READING. 
"  Give  attention  to  reading." 

A  judicious  writer  has  remarked  that  "  a  student 
should  be  as  careful  what  books  he  reads,  as  what 
company  he  keeps."  The  influences  they  exert 
over  the  mind  are  not  unlike. 

Every  student  should  procure  a  collection  of  the 
best  and  most  approved  books,  which  treat  upon 
those  departments  of  learning  included  in  the  pro- 
fession he  has  chosen ;  or  which  treat  upon  special 
subjects  of  study  to  which  he  wishes  to  give  atten- 
tion. His  perusal  of  these  select  authors  should  be 
close,  attentive,  and  thorough.  These  works  should 
be  read  throuc/h,  and  not  "  turned  over."  After 
these  books  have  been  re#d,  other  books,  of  less 
weight,  but  treating  upon  the  same  subject,  may  be 
turned  over,  and  any  additional  valuable  suggestions 
they  may  be  found  to  contain  extracted. 

An  indiscriminate  reading  of  authors  is  often  pro- 
ductive of  immense  evil  to  a  student — evil  in  refer- 
ence not  only  to  economy  of  time,  but  also  to  mental 
discipline  and  correct  taste.  That  restless  curiosity 
which  prompts  the  student  to  read  every  new  book 
that  comes  out,  because  it  is  new,  and  not  because  it 
is  worth  reading,  is  absurd  and  ridiculous,  and  should 
be  guarded  against.  "  There  is  a  wide  difference," 
says  Dr.  Mason,  "  between  a  man  of  reading  and  a 
man  of  learning.  One  cannot  read  everything;  and 


COMMUNICATION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.       165 

if  we  could,  we  should  be  never  the  wiser.  The  bad 
would  spoil  the  good,  fill  our  minds  with  a  confused 
medley  of  sentiments  and  desires,  and  the  end  of 
reading  would  be  quite  defeated  for  want  of  time 
and  power  to  practice  and  improve."  We  should  as 
soon  expect  that  much  and  indiscriminate  eating, 
without  exercise  and  digestion,  would  make  a  strong 
man,  as  that  much  and  indiscriminate  reading,  with- 
out careful  meditation,  would  make  a  strong  mind. 
Such  a  course  can  never  make  a  well-read  man,  but 

"  A  boorish  blockhead,  ignorantly  read, 
With  loads  of  learned  lumber  in  his  head." 

If  after  an  author  has  been  selected,  and  the  read- 
ing of  him  commenced,  he  is  found  to  be  common- 
place, insipid,  or  trifling,  lay  him  aside.  Time 
enough  has  been  wasted  upon  him. 

Of  that  portion  of  time  allotted  to  reading,  devote 
that  in  which  the  mind  is  usually  most  vigorous  and 
intent  to  the  more  solid  reading,  and  that  which  re- 
quires greater  exercise  of  thought  and  memory. 
Lighter  reading  can  come  in  at  odd  intervals.  let 
such  reading  also  be  done  in  the  retirement  of  your 
study,  where  you  will  be  free  from  interruption. 
However  well  disciplined  the  mind  may  be,  it  can 
never  prosecute  its  studies  to  the  best  advantage  in 
the  midst  of  noise  and  confusion  ;  and  any  pretej/ce 
to  this  is  mere  affectation.  Also,  the  mind  must  be 
composed  for  study,  and  not  broken  off  suddenly 
from  care  or  excitement,  and  applied  to  it.  "  Never 
pretend  to  study  while  the  mind  is  not  recovered 


150  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

from  a  hurry  of  cares,  or  the  perturbations  of  pas- 
sion.  Such  abrupt  and  violent  transitions  is  a  dis- 
cipline to  which  it  will  not  easily  submit,  especially 
if  it  has  not  been  well  managed,  and  long  iccustom- 
ed  to  it.  Aurora  Musis  arnica,  necnon  vt-spcra,  be- 
causo  the  mind  is  then  commonly  most  free  and 
disengaged." 

Observe  the  characteristic  excellences  of  every 
author  you  read.  "  Every  good  writer,"  says  Dr. 
Mason,  "  has  his  peculiar  felicity,  his  distinguishing 
excellence.  Some  excel  in  style  ;  entertain  us  with 
easy,  natural  language ;  or  with  an  elegance  and 
propriety  of  expression ;  or  delight  us  with  their 
florid,  smooth,  and  well-turned  periods !  Some  love 
a  figurative,  diffuse,  and  flowing  style.  Others, 
quite  a  plain,  rational,  discursive  one.  Each  have 
their  excellence.  But  the  most  elegant  is  that  which 
is  the  most  natural,  proper,  and  expressive ;  it  can- 
not then  be  too  short  and  plain,  both  to  delight 
and  instruct;  the  two  great  ends  of  language.  A 
style  overloaded  with  studied  ornaments  grows  pro- 
lix ;  and  prolixity  always  weakens  or  obscures  the 
sentiment  it  would  express.  Others  excel  in  senti- 
ments. Those  sentiments  strike  us  with  pleasure 
that  are  strong,  or  clear,  or  soft,  or  sublime,  pathetic, 
^nst,  or  uncommon.  Whatever  has  the  most  weight 
a «d  brevity  finds  the  quickest  way  to  the  heart. 
Others  excel  in  method ;  in  a  natural  disposition  of 
the  subject,  and  an  easy,  free,  familiar  way  of  com- 
municating thought  to  the  understanding.  Nothing 
is  very  striking.  You  approve  and  are  well  pleased 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       157 

with  your  author,  and  you  scarce  know  for  what. 
Tliis  resembles  the  Je  ne  sais  quoi,  tout  agreeable,  in 
the  very  humor,  turn,  and  air  of  some  people  we 
converse  with.  Others  are  very  happy  in  their 
manner  and  way  of  conveying  clear,  rational,  solid 
arguments  and  instructions  to  the  mind,  which  arrest 
your  attention,  command  your  approbation,  and 
force  your  assent  at  once.  You  see  everything  in 
broad  day,  in  a  fair,  and  strong,  and  proper  light. 
A  perfect  writer  has  all  these  excellences  of  style, 
sentiment,  method,  and  manner,  united."  A  close 
observance  of  these  peculiarities  will  contribute  not 
a  little  to  the  understanding  of  the  author,  and  the 
advantages  that  result  from  reading  him. 

"  From  all  your  authors  choose  one  or  two  for 
your  model,  by  which  to  form  your  style  and  senti- 
ments ;  and  let  them  be  your  Euchiridia,  your 
pocket  companions.  Consult  and  imitate  them  every 
day,  till  you  are  not  only  master  of  their  style  and 
sentiments,  but  imbibe  their  spirit.  But  be  very 
cautious  both  in  your  choice  and  imitation,  lest  with 
their  excellences  you  adopt  their  faults,  to  which  an 
excessive  veneration  for  them  may  make  you  blind.* 

"  If  your  author  have  an  established  reputation, 
and  you  do  not  relish  him,  suspect  your  own  taste 
and  judgment.  Perhaps  something  has  biased  your 
mind  against  him :  find  it  out,  and  compare  it  wrtb 
those  beauties  which  charm  his  other  readers  moi'e 

*  Certis  irigeniis  imraorari  et  innutrisi  oportet,  si  veils  aliquid 
altiul-sre  quod  in  anirno  fideliter  redeat — probates  itaque  sempei 
Jege,  ot  siquando  ad  alios  divertere  libuerit,  ad  priores  redi. — Sen 
Kf  i. 


]58  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

than  all  his  blemishes  offend  them."  "We  should  bo 
lenient  in  our  judgment,  as  Horace  says  be  would 
be  to  the  slight  offenses  in  a  poem,  otherwise  excel- 
lent* The  more  familiar  you  become  with  such  an 
author,  the  more  highly  will  you  prize  his  excel- 
lences, and  the  less  inclined  to  be  censorious  toward 
his  faults.  There  is  reason  and  philosophy  in  the 
decies  repetita  placebunt  of  Juvenal. 

"  Before  you  sit  down  to  a  book,  taste  it,  that  is, 
examine  the  titlepage,  preface,  contents,  and  index ; 
then  turn  to  the  place  where  some  important  article 
is  discussed,  observe  the  writer's  diction,  argument, 
method,  and  manner  of  treating  it.  If,  after  two  or 
three  such  trials,  you  find  he  is  obscure,  confused, 
pedantic,  shallow,  or  trifling,  depend  upon  it  he  is 
not  worth  your  reading. 

"  Also  make  marks  at  the  margin  of  your  books 
against  those  passages  where  the  sentiment  is  well 
conceived,  or  well  expressed,  and  worth  your  re- 
membering or  retailing ;  or  transfer  it  into  your 
common-place  book,  under  the  head  your  author  is 
treating  of;  or  at  least  a  reference  to  it."  If  you 
rely  wholly  on  the  memory  for  the  retention  of  these 
literary  gems,  many  of  them  will  be  lost  entirely, 
and  others  only  imperfectly  remembered.  A  com- 
mon-place book  is  almost  indispensable  to  him  who 
would  have  at  command  a  large  fund  of  varied  and 
valuable  knowledge. 

*  Vertim  ubi  plura  nitent  in  carmine,  non  ego  paucis 
Offendar  maculis,  quas  aut  incuria  fudit, 
Aut  humana  Darum  cavit  natura. — De  Arts  Poetic*. 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       159 

SECTION  VII. — Consider  the  frequent  and  weighty  demands 
made  upon  your  mental  resources,  and  endeavor  to  meet 
them. 

A  writer  in  the  Edinburgh  Review  expresses  sur- 
prise that  the  instances  are  so  rare  of  eminent  elo- 
quence in  the  pulpit,  and  that  so  few  of  the  millions 
of  sermons  preached  annually  survive  the  period  of 
their  delivery.  But  this  surprise  will,  in  a  measure, 
be  abated  when  we  consider  how  frequent  are  the 
demands  that  are  made  upon  the  resources  of  the 
minister  ;  and  that  their  frequent  recurrence  is  in  a 
steady  and  uniform  flow — often  while  the  minister  is 
so  harassed  with  interruptions,  with  cares  and  du- 
ties of  another  character,  that  leave  him  time  greatly 
inadequate  to  a  thorough  preparation  of  his  matter; 
much  less  for  a  thorough  cultivation  of  his  manner. 

The  subjoined  remarks  of  Mr.  Burder  do  not 
place  this  subject  in  too  strong  a  light: — "In  the 
discharge  of  his  stated  duties  on  the  sabbath,  and  of 
the  frequent  engagements  which  arise  out  of  the  ex- 
citement of  benevolent  activity,  in  the  present  day, 
how  heavy  are  the  demands  upon  the  time,  and 
talents,  and  attainments,  of  a  Christian  minister! 
With  a  limited  degree  of  opportunity  for  prepara- 
tion, on  what  a  variety  of  subjects  he  has  to  dis- 
course— what  a  versatility  of  thought  he  has  to  dis- 
play !  How  much  he  needs  an  ample  store  of 
general  principles,  on  almost  all  subjects  interesting 
to  the  heart  of  man ;  well-digested  views  of  the  whole 
system  of  revealed  truth ;  familiarity  with  the  most 


160  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

important  points  of  Biblical  criticism  ;  and  materials 
derived  from  almost  all  the  sources  of  human  know- 
ledge, in  order  to  present  to  his  hearers,  rich,  and 
diversified,  and  interesting  materials  of  illustration, 
to  whatever  subjects  he  invites  their  regard.  Surely 
qualifications  for  such  engagements  are  not  to  be 
expected  without  extensive  reading  and  perpetual 
application." 

M.  Bruyere  has  remarked  that  "  it  is  easier  to 
preach  than  to  plead ;  but  more  difficult  to  preach 
well  than  to  plead  well/'  A  careful  analysis  of  the 
eloquence  of  the  bar  and  of  the  pulpit  has  con- 
vinced us  of  the  justness  of  this  criticism.  "  It  is 
easier  to  preach  than  to  plead,"  because  the  preach- 
er, with  but  little  preparation,  and  little  effort,  may 
consume  his  hour  in  vague  generalities,  and  in  dis- 
course upon  almost  every  miscellaneous  topic  under 
the  sun,  and  his  congregation  will  give  him  a  respect- 
ful hearing  ;  but  the  lawyer  must  plead  to  the  case 
in  hand,  and  will  not  be  permitted  to  wander  over 
the  universe  of  thought,  for  the  sake  of  making  a 
speech.  But  "  to  preach  well  is  more  difficult." 
The  programm  of  the  case  furnishes  the  lawyer  with 
his  brief,  imbodying  the  outlines  of  his  plea ;  whilo 
the  minister  is  necessitated  "  to  dig"  for  the  outline, 
order,  and  arrangement,  of  his.  The  lawyer  will  not 
lack  variety,  for  it  is  already  provided  in  the  differ- 
ent aspects  the  cause  has  assumed,  and  the  variety 
of  facts  furnished  by  the  witnesses  ;  but  the  preacher 
must  attain  variety,  as  the  result  of  his  own  toil. 
The  lawyer  feels  no  division  of  interest  in  the  sclec- 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      161 

tion  of  his  topics,  and  consequent  distraction  of  mind, 
for  the  case  that  is  brought  before  him  furnishes  the 
theme  of  his  discourse ;  while  the  mind  of  the  preacher 
«  often  divided  between  the  conflicting  claims  of  dif- 
ferent subjects. 

Another  and  a  striking  characteristic  difference 
between  the  eloquence  of  the  bar  and  that  of  the 
pulpit  is,  that  the  lawyer  needs  only  to  convince ; 
while  the  preacher  must  not  only  convince,  but  per- 
suadf.  ;  the  lawyer  needs  only  to  elicit  truth,  so  that 
it  may  be  known  ;  the  preacher  is  often,  nay,  for  the 
most  part,  obliged  to  discourse  upon  truths  perfectly 
known,  in  order  not  so  much  to  convince  the  under- 
standing as  to  remove  the  indifference  of  the  multi- 
tude. Again,  the  minister  must  produce  a  perma- 
nent effect ;  to  gain  a  temporary  assent  of  the  reason 
of  his  hearers  is  insufficient;  a  permanent  conviction 
must  be  produced.  Not  so  with  the  advocate. 
Does  he  obtain  the  verdict  of  the  jury  in  favor  of 
his  client,  his  object  is  secured.  It  matters  not  what 
may  be  their  opinion  in  the  case  to-morrow  ;  he  la- 
bors only  to  obtain  their  verdict  to-day. 

The  sphere  of  the  minister  is  to  "  convince  and  to 
persuade ;"  to  adapt  a  discourse  to  this  double  end, 
and  execute  it  with  success,  is  no  easy  task,  ar  d  re- 
quires no  mean  exercise  of  intellectual  power.  "  To 
give  to  what  is  old  the  grace  of  novelty ;  to  invest 
admitted  truth  with  such  colors  as  affect  the  imagina- 
tion and  the  heart ;  to  confine  description  to  abstract 
qualities,  and  yet  to  influence  practical  life,  is  the 
greatest  trial  of  human  skill."  When  we  consider 
11 


162  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

the  intrinsic  difficulties  of  the  undertaking,  and  then 
reflect  that  these  demands  are  hebdomadally  made, 
and  that  the  talent  of  eloquence,  at  best,  is  rare, 
"  the  matter  of  surprise  should  be,  not  that  we  hear 
so  few  eloquent  sermons,  but  so  many  good  ones." 

SECTION*  VIII. —  Consider  tlie  demands  made  by  the  diver- 
sity of  mental  character  in  your  congregations,  and  en- 
deavor to  meet  them. 

Tjplt  there  should  be  a  fitness  between  the  discourse 
..and  the  auditory,  in  order  to  the  production  of  the 
highest  results  of  eloquence,  or  indeed  in  order  to 
the  production  of  the  ordinary  results  of  discourse, 
is  obvious.  This  fitness  must  regard  the  style  of 
thought  and  expression,  also  the  sentiments  incul- 
cated and  the  emotions  felt  with  reference  to  them. 
Religious  assemblies  generally  combine  almost  every 
variety  and  shade  of  moral  and  intellectual  charac- 
ter, hence  the  exceeding  difficulty  of  suiting  the  dis- 
course to  each. 

It  is  a  just  remark  of  Dr.  Campbell,  in  his  Philo- 
sophy of  Rhetoric,  "  That  the  more  mixed  the  audi- 
tory is,  the  greater  is  the  difficulty  of  speaking  to 
them  with  effect.  The  preacher,  therefore,  has  a 
more  delicate  part  to  perform  than  either  the  pleader 
or  the  senator.  The  auditors,  though  rarely  so  ac- 
complished as  to  require  the  same  accuracy  of  com- 
position, or  acuteness  in  reasoning,  as  may  be  ex- 
pected in  the  other  two,  are  more  various  in  age, 
rank,  taste,  inclinations,  sentiments,  and  prejudices." 
Then,  in  addition  to  this  variety  in  the  character  of 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      163 

the  audience,  there  is  an  almost  equal  variety  to  be 
met  in  the  time,  place,  and  circumstances,  of  the 
audience.  To  meet  all  these  conditions  is  one  of  the 
highest  efforts  of  the  art. 

The  adaptation  of  his  discourses  to  the  assemblies 
he  addresses,  and  to  the  different  classes  in  those 
assemblies,  should  be  a  matter  of  careful  study  on 
the  part  of  the  pulpit  orator.  "  To  men  of  different 
castes  and  complexions,"  says  Mr.  Hall,  "  it  is  obvi- 
ous, a  corresponding  difference  in  the  selection 
topics  and  the  methods  of  appeal  is  requisite.  Some 
are  only  capable  of  digesting  the  first  principles 
religion,  on  whom  it  is  necessary  to  inculcate  the 
same  lessons  with  the  reiteration  of  parental  solici- 
tude ;  there  are  others  of  a  wider  grasp  of  compre- 
hension, who  must  be  indulged  with  an  ampler  varie- 
ty, and  to  whom  views  of  religion  less  obvious,  less 
obtrusive,  and  demanding  a  more  vigorous  exercise 
of  the  understanding  are  peculiarly  adapted.  Some 
are  accustomed  to  examine  every  subject  in  a  light 
so  cool,  so  argumentative,  that  they  are  not  easily 
impressed  with  anything  which  is  not  presented  in 
the  garb  of  reasoning,  nor  apt,  though  firm  believers 
in  revelation,  to  be  strongly  moved  by  naked  asser- 
tion from  even  that  quarter.  There  are  others  of  a 
softer  temperament,  who  are  easily  won  liy  tender 
strokes  of  pathos.  Minds  of  an  obdurate  make, 
which  have  been  rendered  callous  by  long  hatits  of 
vice,  must  be  compelled  and  subdued  by  the  terrors 
of  the  Lord,  while  others  are  capable  of  being  drawn 
by  the  cords  and  ivith  the  hands  of  a  man.  Sc  me  we 


m- 

* 

>me  ^^ 
of     V. 


i64  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

must  save  icitlt  fi-nr,  plucking  tltem  out  of  tltefre,  on 
others  we  must  have  compassion,  making  a  difference. 
You  will  recollect  that  He  who  spake  as  never  mau 
spake,  mild,  gentle,  insinuating  in  his  address  to  the 
multitude,  reserved  the  thunder  of  his  denunciations 
for  sanctimonious  hypocrites.  In  this  part  of  our 
ministerial  function  we  shall  do  well  to  imitate  St. 
Paul,  who  became  '  all  things  to  all  men  that  he 
might  win  some,'  combining,  in  his  efforts  for  the 
salvation  of  souls,  the  utmost  simplicity  of  intention, 
with  the  utmost  versatility  of  address." 

The  difficulties  to  which  we  have  here  adverted 
are  difficulties  of  no  common  magnitude,  and  to 
overcome  them  will  require  a  deep  insight  into  hu- 
man nature,  combined  with  no  small  degree  of  studi- 
ous preparation.  He  that  overlooks  the  subject  is 
unmindful  of  one  of  the  essential  elements  of  min- 
isterial success  and  usefulness. 


SECTION    IX.  —  Consider  the  demands  made  ly  the  in 
of  literary  and  si.-itnt(fic  knowledge  among  all  classes  in 
society,  and  endeavor  to  meet  tin  in. 

Nothing  but  superior  intelligence,  combined  with 
superior  piety,  can  secure  for  the  Christian  minister 
that  profound  respect  from  his  hearers  which  will 
contribute  to  the  weight  and  influence  of  what  he 
may  say.  "  It  is  naturally  expected,"  says  Mr. 
Burder,  "that  a  minister  should  Ire  superior  to  his 
hearers,  not  only  in  his  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures, 
but  also  in  mental  culture  and  literary  attainments. 
To  secure,  by  a  wide  interval,  that  superiority,  was 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      165 

formerly  by  no  means  difficult  for  those  ministers 
who  had  enjoyed  the  advantage  of  a  liberal  educa- 
tion. In  the  present  day  this  is  not  so  easy  a  task. 
In  most  congregations,  there  are  not  a  few  who  have 
been  versed  in  the  principles  of  literature  and  sci- 
ence, and  who  are  qualified  to  detect  inaccuracies 
of  thought  or  expression,  which  might  formerly  have 
passed  without  notice.  It  should  be  deeply  impress- 
ed on  the  mind  of  every  minister,  when  he  embarks 
on  his  professional  course,  that  as  the  standard  of  in- 
formation among  all  classes  is  perpetually  rising,  the 
standard  of  learning  and  of  talent  among  the  min- 
isters of  the  gospel  must  be  raised,  at  least  in  an 
equal  degree." 

Says  the  Rev.  Daniel  Smith,  in  a  contribution  to 
the  Methodist  Quarterly  Review,  "  The  same  qua- 
lifications which  would  have  enabled  a  minister  to 
pass  very  well  thirty  years  since,  will  not  answer  for 
these  times.  Institutions  of  learning  were  not  then 
multiplied  as  at  present,  and  those  that  did  exist, 
particularly  the  elementary  schools,  did  not  compare 
with  those  now  in  operation.  With  the  improve- 
ments already  made,  and  those  projected  and  in 
progress,  no  inconsiderable  share  of  science  is  likely 
to  be  brought  to  every  man's  door.  History,  the 
philosophy  of  language,  geometry,  chemistry,  natural 
philosophy,  the'  elements  of  astronomy,  physiology, 
the  elements  of  moral  and  intellectual  science,  and 
composition,  are  already  taught  in  some  of  our  com- 
mon schools,  and  likely  soon  to  be  quite  generally 
introduced.  Books  on  all  these  subjects  are  multi- 


1G6  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

plied,  and  cheap.  Now,  no  proposition  in  mathe- 
matics is  more  demonstrable  than  that  the  ministry, 
the  public  teachers  of  religion,  must  keep  in  advance 
of  the  general  intelligence  of  society,  or  lose  its  influ- 
ence over  the  public  mind.  The  same  acquirements 
which  will  pass  at  present,  will  not  do  twenty  years 
hence.  The  progress  of  learning  in  the  ministry 
must  be  onward,  and  those  whom  it  may  concern, 
will  do  well  to  look  to  it,  that  they  do  not  introduce 
mere  '  novices '  in  learning  into  the  sacred  office." 

"  The  minister  would  be  justly  condemned,"  says 
Richard  Watson,  "  and  especially  in  the  present 
day,  who  neglects  the  acquisition  of  knowledge,  and 
who  does  not,  as  St.  Paul  enjoins,  '  give  attention  to 
reading ;'  who  contents  himself  with  half-formed  and 
ill-arranged  generalities ;  who  has  no  intellectual 
stores  from  which  to  make  that  skillful  distribution, 
and  give  that  varied  illustration  of  his  subjects, 
which  the  different  characters,  states,  and  tastes  of 
men  require ;  who,  though  professedly  a  teacher  of 
religion,  neither  defends  it  by  well-chosen  argu- 
ments, nor  holds  in  his  mind  a  just  arrangement  of 
its  doctrines ;  and  who,  while  in  every  public  ser- 
vice, places  himself  before  the  people  as  an  ex- 
pounder of  God's  word,  seems  not  aware  of  the  dili« 
gent  application  to  private  study  which  that  import- 
ant office  demands,  nor  avails  himself  of  the  labors 
of  those  eminent  men  who  have  devoted  their  learn- 
ing and  their  spiritual  discernment  to  elucidate  the 
Holy  Scriptures." 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       167 

SECTJON  X. — Connect  mental  improvement  with  your  pre- 
parations for  the  pulpit. 

"  The  young  preacher  should  by  no  means  think  it 
sufficient  to  make  that  preparation  for  his  appear- 
ance in  the  pulpit  which  he  supposes  will  be  deemed 
adequate  and  respectable  by  those  who  attend  on 
his  ministry.  To  satisfy  himself  should  be  with  him 
an  object  of  much  more  difficult  attainment,  under 
ordinary  circumstances,  than  to  satisfy  his  hearers ; 
and  he  should  not  allow  himself  to  be  satisfied,  unless 
he  has  so  conducted  his  preparation  of  discourses,  as 
to  have  made  some  addition  to  his  stock  of  valuable 
ideas,  or  at  least  to  have  made  some  progress  in  the 
cultivation  of  useful  habits  of  thought  and  expres- 
sion. 

"  There  are  several  plans  by  which  this  improve- 
ment may  be  secured,  some  of  which  I  will  suggest : — 

"  (1.)  Pursue,  when  opportunity  occurs,  those  in- 
quiries which  may  incidentally  arise  out  of  the  texts 
or  the  subjects  which  you  are  studying,  with  a  view 
to  public  discourses. 

"  Let  not  a  spirit  of  indolence  restrict  your  in- 
quiries on  any  important  points,  because  you  are 
aware  that  no  reference  to  such  points  is  necessary 
in  the  discourse  you  may  be  preparing.  These 
points  may  have  an  important  bearing  on  a  variety 
of  subjects,  and  the  investigation  may  tend  to  enrich 
your  mind  by  the  addition  of  important  knowledge, 
or,  at  least,  to  preserve  you  from  injurious  prejudices 
and  mistakes.  Much,  very  much,  I  conceive,  of  the 


168  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

knowledge  by  which  superior  minds  are  distinguish- 
ed, has  been  accumulate!  by  the  habit  now  recom- 
mended. Scarcely  has  any  subject,  especially  in 
their  earlier  studies,  employed  their  thoughts,  with- 
out prompting  some  inquiries  on  points  on  which 
they  were  impatient  to  acquire  more  correct  or  more 
extensive  information.  Had  not  these  wishes  ex- 
cited them  to  embrace  the  earliest  opportunities  of 
investigation,  that  knowledge  would  probably  never 
have  been  attained.  With  a  view  to  the  practica- 
bility of  tliis  extended  and  liberal  plan  of  studying 
discourses  for  the  pulpit,  as  well  as  for  other  reasons 
afterward  to  be  considered,  it  is  of  great  importance 
to  allow  for  such  preparations  time  sufficiently  ample 
to  prevent  the  necessity  of  eager  and  inconsiderate 
haste,  with  the  entire  omission  and  neglect  of  all  in- 
quiries not  absolutely  essential  to  the  composition  of 
the  proposed  discourse. 

"  (2.)  Consult  the  best  authors  to  whose  works 
you  have  access,  who  have  written  on  the  subject 
which  you  propose  to  discuss. 

"It  is  indeed  advisable,  previously  to  your  having 
recourse  to  the  wealth  of  other  minds,  to  make  a 
•vigorous  demand  on  the  stores  of  your  own  mind; 
but,  having  done  this,  you  may  with  great  advantage 
have  recourse  to  the  productions  of  men  of  superior 
intellect  and  attainments.  This  method  is  by  no 
means  to  be  adopted,  with  a  view  to  suspend  or  di- 
minish your  own  intellectual  labor,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, to  secure  several  important  advantages  which 
I  will  specify: — 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      169 

"  It  will  give  excitement  to  the  mind,  and  rouse  it 
Jo  a  state  of  higher  energy  and  activity.  It  will  pre- 
sent ample  materials  for  thought  and  reflection,  and 
should  the  mind  fix  with  a  vigorous  grasp  only  on 
some  one  interesting  thought,  that  single  idea  may 
be  the  first  of  a  train  which  will  give  a  character  and 
a  value  to  the  whole  discourse.  It  will  give  further 
amplitude,  richness,  and  vividness,  to  many  of  the 
illustrations  which  your  own  mind  might  have  sug- 
gested in  part,  but  with  much  less  power  of  ex- 
citing interest  and  impression.  It  will  also  serve  to 
give  additional  confidence  in  the  expression  of  your 
own  opinion. 

"  (3.)  Be  not  satisfied  with  selecting  detached 
texts  and  miscellaneous  subjects,  but  in  addition  to 
those  enter  on  a  course  of  expository  lectures  and  a 
series  of  connected  discourses. 

"  The  method  now  recommended  will  be  at  once 
instructive  to  the  hearers,  and  highly  conducive  tc 
the  improvement  of  the  preacher.  It  will  prevent 
the  wearisome  and  fruitless  expenditure  of  time  in 
searching  after  subjects  of  discourse ;  it  will  supply 
many  interesting  topics  which  might  not  otherwise 
engage  the  attention  ;  it  will  habituate  the  mind  of 
the  minister  of  truth  to  investigate  with  diligence  the 
exact  meaning  of  every  part  of  Scripture  which  h... 
undertakes  to  interpret ;  and  it  will  stimulate  most 
powerfully  to  vigorous  thought,  extensive  reading, 
and  Biblical  researches. 

"  It  is  possible  that  some  preachers  may  hesitate 
to  adopt  the  plans  now  recommended,  from  the  fear 


170  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

of  their  proving  unpopular  and  failing  to  excite  suf- 
Acient  interest.  Let  the  inquiry  then  be  made, 
Have  they  tried  the  experiment  ?  Have  they  pur- 
sued the  plan  with  the  spirit  and  the  application  it 
requires?  Have  they  adopted  a  judicious  applica- 
tion of  subjects?  In  expounding  the  Scriptures 
have  they  made  choice  of  such  books  or  such  chapters 
as  were  best  adapted  to  their  own  mental  resources, 
and  to  the  circumstances  of  their  hearers?  Have 
they  been  sufficiently  anxious  to  combine  instruction 
with  impression  ;  and  while  they  endeavored  to  con- 
vey knowledge  to  the  understanding,  has 'it  been 
also  their  assiduous  attempt  to  awaken  the  con- 
science and  affect  the  heart?  If  these  objects  are 
kept  in  view  in  the  conduct  of  expository  lectures, 
and  the  discussion  of  connected  subjects,  the  interest 
excited  in  the  minds  of  the  hearers,  instead  of  being 
diminished,  will  be  most  sensibly  augmented. 

"  (4.)  Let  the  subjects  and  the  texts  intended  for 
the  discourses  of  the  succeeding  sabbath  be  selected 
early  in  the  week. 

"  I  envy  not  the  preacher  who  can  allow  day  after 
day  in  the  early  part  of  the  week  to  glide  away, 
without  any  solicitude  to  determine  on  what  subjects 
he  shall  address  his  auditory  on  the  coming  sab- 
bath. Can  he  secure  at  the  end  of  the  week  all  that 
leisure  that  he  calculates  upon — all  that  freedom 
from  intrusion  and  interruption  requisite  to  tranquil 
continuity  of  thought  ?  Is  it  certain  that  he  will  ex- 
perience no  perplexity  or  embarrassment  in  effect- 
ing a  choice,  when  a  choice  can  no  longer  be  de- 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       171 

iayed  ?  Is  he  wise  in  deferring  his  effort  to  select  a 
subjec  t  till  that  part  of  the  week,  when  all  the  time 
that  remains  is  scarcely  sufficient  for  the  requisite 
inquiries  and  reflections,  even  were  the  choice  al- 
ready determined  ?  Is  he  consulting  the  approba- 
tion of  his  own  mind,  or  the  approbation  of  Him  in 
whose  service  he  is  engaged,  or  the  good  of  those 
whose  edification  he  is  anxious  to  promote  ?  Is  he 
not  negligently  unmindful  of  the  benefit  he  might 
derive,  during  the  course  of  the  week,  from  those 
thoughts  and  feelings  which,  even  without  any  direct 
exertion,  might  almost  spontaneously  occur  to  his 
mind,  and  become  intimately  associated  with  the 
subject  on  which  he  was  to  preach,  were  the  selec- 
tion of  that  subject  to  precede,  by  a  due  interval, 
the  period  of  due  preparation  ?" 

To  the  above  suggestions  of  Mr.  Burder,  we  ap- 
pend the  following  pertinent  remarks  of  Professor 
Park : — "  It  is  by  no  means  sufficient  that  a  man  in- 
vestigate barely  those  parts  of  his  subject  which  he 
wishes  to  discuss  in  his  sermon.  He  must  investigate 
all  parts  before  he  can  safely  conclude  which  to  dis- 
cuss and  which  to  exclude.  He  must  be  able  to 
take  the  whole  subject  into  his  hands  as  a  ball  of 
ivory,  and  turn  it  over  and  over,  and  present  all 
sides  of  it.  Even  if  he  deem  a  particular  branch  of 
it  inappropriate  to  the  pulpit,  still  it  must  be  analyzed. 
The  analysis  will  give  impulse  and  acumen  to  his 
mind,  suggest  the  most  suitable  and  eloquent  collo- 
cation of  his  more  popular  thoughts,  and  often  ini- 
tiate him  into  new  fields  of  practical  reflection. 


172  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

Every  part  of  his  doctrine  has  its  collateral  parts, 
»ts  dependences,  its  intimations ;  and  if  he  explore 
the  circumjacent  ground  as  well  as  the  spot  on  which 
he  intends  to  build,  he  will  often  discover  a  fruitful 
spot  in  the  very  darkest  corners,  under  the  most 
tangled  shrubbery.  '  Even  a  Russian  steppe  has 
tumuli  and  gold  ornaments ;  also  many  a  scene  that 
looks  desert  and  rock-bound  from  the  distance,  will 
unfold  itself,  when  visited,  into  rare  valleys.'  Our 
clergymen  commit  an  injurious  error  when  they 
neglect  and  repudiate  all  discussion  which  promises 
no  immediate  practical  bearing.  They  should  reflect 
that  in  a  great  building  there  are  rough  and  un- 
sightly foundation-stones,  which  are  not  to  be  wholly 
dispensed  with,  because  they  are  unsuitable  for  a 
place  in  the  parlor,  on  the  sofa,  or  the  piano.  They 
should  reflect,  that  in  a  finished  picture  there  are 
some  colorings  which  will  disgust,  if  presented  in  bold 
relief,  but  will  leave  the  picture  still  more  disgusting 
if  excluded  ftoin  the  back-ground,  where,  perhaps, 
only  a  connoisseur  will  be  able  to  explain  their  effect. 
A  sermon  is  incomplete  unless  its  arrangement,  its 
allusions,  its  whole  spirit,  betray  the  author's  fami- 
liarity with  the  fundamental  and  even  suppressed 
branches  of  his  theme." 

SECTION  XI. — Let  not  your  direct  preparation  for  the  pulpit 
be  superficial,  but  let  the  subject  be  thoroughly  investigated, 
and  the  thought  methodically  arranged. 

A  fluent  man  may  pour  forth  a  torrent  of  words,  but, 
unless  they  give  expression  to  just  thought  and  valu- 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       173 

able  ideas,  his  auditory  will  remind  one  of  the 
description  of  Milton  : — 

"  The  hungry  sheep  look  up,  and  are  not  fed." 

No  fluency  of  speech  will  make  amends  for  poverty 
of  thought.  The  efforts  of  him  who  shall  attempt  to 
preach,  without  having  his  mind  stored  with  theo- 
logical knowledge,  are  not  unjustly  characterized  as, 

"  Dropping  buckets  into  empty  wells  ; 
And  growing  old  in  drawing  nothing  up." 

Where  there  is  eloquence  at  all,  there  must  be  the 
eloquence  ofthouc/ht,  A  man  may  bluster,  and  foam, 
and  rave,  and  stamp,  and  gesticulate,  and  scream ; 
but  these  can  never  supply  the  lack  of  thought. 
"The  foundation  of  all  that  can  be  called  eloquent," 
says  Blair,  "  is  good  sense  and  solid  thought.  Let  it 
be  the  first  study  of  public  speakers,  in  addressing 
any  popular  assembly,  to  be  previously  master  of  the 
business  on  which  they  are  to  speak;  to  be  well  pro- 
vided with  matter  and  argument;  and  to  rest  upon 
these  the  chief  stress."*  Mere  ornament  can  never 
become  a  substitute  for  these  substantial  elements  of 
discourse,  but  it  may  often  be  added  to  advantage. 
The  public  speaker,  however,  should  be  wary  of 
using  that  which  is  merely  ornamental,  remembering 
that  that  can  add  no  intrinsic  beauty  to  a  discourse 
which  does  not  at  the  same  time  contribute  to  its 
strength. 

*  The  abbe  Maury  also  insists  that  "  the  orator  must  join  to  the 
instruction  which  he  has  derived  from  his  preparatory  studies,  an 
intimate  knowledge  of  the  subject  which  he  proposes  to  jiscuM.* 
— Principles  of  Eloquence,  sec.  V 


174  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

Sometimes  the  whole  outline  and  plan  oi'  a  dis- 
course may  be  almost  instantly  suggested  in  conneo* 
tion  with  the  text  or  the  topic  upon  which  the  dis- 
course is  to  be  made.  AVhen  this  is  the  case,  the 
labor  of  preparation  will  be  greatly  lightened,  and 
will  consist,  mainly,  in  filling  up  the  outline  already 
sketched  and  in  improving  the  plan  where  it  may  be 
done  to  good  effect.  This  is  a  work,  hoAvever,  that 
cannot  be  neglected  with  safety.  If  neglected  till 
the  moment  of  delivery,  the  speaker  will  most  likely 
be  compelled  to  rear  his  edifice  without  cement  to 
join  the  stones. 

When,  however,  which  is  oftener  the  case,  no  such 
plan  is  suggested,  the  speaker  is  compelled  to  medi- 
tate, study,  and  read  upon  the  subject.  In  this  way 
he  slowly  accumulates  isolated  facts  and  thoughts, 
which  cluster  without  order  in  his  mind ;  and  thus 
he  collects  Avhat  Cicero  terms  "  a  forest  of  ideas  and 
subjects."*  These  ideas  and  subjects  are  now  to  be 
reduced  to  system,  and  arranged  in  order ;  so  "  that 
truth  may  open  to  the  hearer,  as  the  landscape  does 
to  the  traveler."  "  It  i<  here,"  says  the  abbe  Mnury, 
"  where  art  begins.  It  is  time  to  fix  your  nlan. 
This  is  generally  the  part  which  costs  much  labor, 
and  which  very  much  influences  the  success  ol  the 
discourse Is  this  plan  ill-conceived,  ob- 
scure, and  indeterminate  ?  There  wiil  be  in  the 
proofs  an  inevitable  confusion,  the  subjects  will  not 
be  clearly  distinguished,  and  the  arguments,  instead 
of  affording  each  other  a  mutual  suppti-t,  will  inter* 

*  Sylva  rcrum  ac  sententiarum  comparanda  *>si. — De  Oryt 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       175 

fere.  The  more  you  study  your  plan,  the  greater 
enlargement  you  give  to  your  subject.  Statements 
which,  at  first,  seemed  sufficiently  copious  to  em- 
brace the  substance  of  a  discourse  in  all  its  extent; 
scarcely  form  a  subdivision  fertile  enough  when  you 
are  acquainted  with  the  method  of  expanding  your 
ideas." 

"  In  all  kinds  of  public  speaking,"  says  Mr.  Blair, 
"  nothing  is  of  greater  consequence  than  a  proper 
and  clear  method.  Though  the  method  be  not  laid 
down  in  form,  no  discourse  of  any  length  should  be 
without  method  ;  that  is,  everything  should  be  found 
in  its  proper  place.  Every  one  who  speaks  will  find 
it  of  the  greatest  advantage  to  himself  to  have  pre- 
viously arranged  his  thoughts,  and  classed  under 
proper  heads,  in  his  own  mind,  what  he  is  to  deliver. 
This  will  assist  his  memory,  and  carry  him  through 
his  discourse  without  that  confusion  to  which  one  is 
every  moment  subject  who  has  fixed  no  distinct  plan 
of  what  he  has  to  say. 

"  And,  in  respect  to  the  hearers,  order  in  discourse 
is  absolutely  necessary  for  making  any  proper  im- 
pression. It  adds  both  force  and  light  to  what  is 
said.  It  makes  them  accompany  the  speaker  easily 
and  readily  as  he  goes  along ;  and  makes  them  feel 

the  full  effect  of  every  argument  he  employs 

Too  much  pains,  therefore,  cannot  be  employed  in 
previously  studying  the  plan  and  method.  If  there 
be  indistinctness  and  disorder  we  can  have  no  suc- 
cess in  convincing." 

Another  advantage  arising  from  the  plan  is  found 


17G  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

in  its  progression.  "It  is  always  necessary,"  says 
the  abbe  Maury,  "  to  observe  a  specified  progression 
in  the  distribution  of  the  plan,  in  order  to  impart  an 
increasing  force  to  the  points  advanced,  to  give 
weight  to  the  argument,  and  energy  to  the  rhetorical 
movements.  It  is  as  rare  as  it  is  difficult  to  render 
both  parts  of  a  sermon  equally  excellent,  because 
the  same  resources  seldom  present  themselves  to  the 
imagination  of  the  orator.  The  latter,  however, 
ought  to  excel  the  former.  Eloquence  always  de- 
clines when  it  ceases  to  rise.  It  is  therefore  1o  the 
second  branch  of  the  division  that  the  most  per- 
suasive arguments  and  pathetic  sentiments  ought  to 
be  reserved."  These  principles,  suggested  by  Maury, 
are  clearly  observable  in  the  orations  of  Cicero,  who 
invariably  adopted  a  method  in  his  orations  which 
obliged  him  to  be  "  surpassing  himself  continually 
by  fresh  efforts." 

SECTIOK  XII. — Do  not  attach  too  much  imjiortance  to  artifi- 
cial rides  for  the  preparation  of  a  sermon. 

"  I  would  not  discourage  the  perusal  of  such  produc- 
tions as  the  celebrated  essay  of  Claude  on  the  com- 
position of  a  sermon;  but  I  will  take  the  liberty  of 
saying,  that  I  attach  to  such  aids  only  a  subordinate 
degree  of  importance.  An  able  translator  of  that 
essay  states,  in  his  preface,  that  he  was  induced  to 
publish  it '  for  the  use  of  those  studious  ministers  in 
our  Protestant  Dissenting  Churches,  who  have  not 
enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a  regular  academical 
education.'  The  remark  obviously  implies  that,  iu 


COMMUNICATION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.       177 

his  opinion,  the  rules  and  advices  which  that  essay 
contains  are  of  much  less  importance  to  those  who 
have  enjoyed  such  advantages  ;  and  I  cannot  but  be 
of  the  opinion,  that  they  whose  minds  have  been 
disciplined,  by  a  course  of  liberal  studies,  will  derive 
far  more  assistance  from  the  guidance  of  general 
principles  than  from  any  specific  or  artificial  rules. 

"  Almost  all  the  exercises  of  intellect  which  a 
judicious  plan  of  education  prescribes,  have  a  ten- 
dency to  train  the  mind  to  those  habits  of  thought 
which  dictate  a  natural,  and  therefore  logical,  method 
of  unfolding  and  arranging  our  ideas,  so  as  to  put 
our  hearers,  by  a  method  the  most  direct,  into  full 
possession  of  our  sentiments.  Whatever,  then,  is 
adapted  to  induce  those  important  habits  of  thought 
tends,  by  most  beneficial  influence,  to  supersede  the 
necessity  of  artificial  aid,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to 
secure  the  additional  advantage  of  leaving  the  mind 
free  from  those  fetters  and  trammels  which  the  rules 
of  art  too  frequently  impose. 

"  In  the  composition  of  sermons  the  exercise  of 
discriminating  judgment  is  requisite,  not  only  in  the 
formation,  but  also  in  the  exhibition  of  the  plan  of 
arrangement.  If  the  general  outline  be  not  explicitly 
stated,  the  hearer  remains  without  any  ph  dge  for 
the  judicious  selection  or  the  orderly  distribution 
of  the  materials  of  thought  which  belong  to  the  sub- 
ject, and  without  that  excitement  to  fixed  attention, 
and  that  aid  in  his  efforts  to  recollect  the  train  of 
thought,  which  the  preacher  should  not  fail  to  afford 
On  the  other  hand,  if  the  arrangement  be  too  formal, 
12 


178  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

or  the  plan  too  fully  disclosed,  other  evil?  are  in- 
curred." 

The  evils  to  which  Mr.  Burder  alludes  are  thus 
exhibited  by  Robert  Hall : — "  In  the  mode  of  con- 
ducting our  public  ministrations  we  are,  perhaps,  too 
formal,  and  too  mechanical ;  that  in  the  matter  of 
our  sermons  we  indulge  too  little  variety;  and,  ex- 
posing our  plan  in  all  its  parts,  abate  the  edge  of 
curiosity,  by  enabling  the  hearer  to  anticipate  what 
we  intend  to  advance.  Why  should  that  force  which 
gives  to  every  other  emotion,  derived  from  just  and 
affecting  sentiments,  be  banished  from  the  pulpit, 
when  it  is  found  of  such  moment  in  every  other  kind 
of  public  address  ?  I  cannot  but  imagine  the  first 
preachers  of  the  gospel  appeared  before  their  audi- 
ences with  a  more  free  and  unfettered  air  than  is 
consistent  with  the  narrow  trammels  to  which,  in 
these  later  ages,  discourses  from  the  pulpit  are  con- 
signed. The  sublime  emotions  with  which  they 
were  fraught  would  have  rendered  them  impatient 
of  such  restrictions ;  nor  could  they  suffer  the  im- 
petuous stream  of  argument,  expostulation,  and 
pathos,  to  be  weakened,  by  diverting  it  into  the 
artificial  reservoirs  prepared  in  the  heads  and  par- 
ti ?ulars  of  a  modern  sermon. 

"  Llethod,  we  are  aware,  is  an  essential  ingredient 
in  even*  discourse  designed  for  the  instruction  of 
mankind ;  but  it  ought  never  to  force  itself  on  the 
attention  as  an  object  apart ;  never  appear  to  be  an 
end  instead  of  an  instrument ;  or  beget  a  suspicion 
of  the  sentiment  being  introduced  for  the  sake  of 


COMMUNICATION    OF  KNOWLEDGE.      179 

the  method,  not  the  method  for  the  sake  of  the  senti- 
ment. Let  the  experiment  be  traced  to  some  of 
the  best  speakers  of  ancient  eloquence  ;  let  an  ora- 
tion of  Cicero  or  Demosthenes  be  stretched  on  a 
Procrustes'  bed  of  this  sort,  and,  if  I  am  not  greatly 
mistaken,  the  flame  of  enthusiasm,  which  has  ex- 
cited admiration  in  all  ages,  will  instantly  evaporate ; 
yet  no  one  perceives  a  want  of  method  in  these  im- 
mortal compositions,  nor  can  anything  be  conceived 
more  remote  from  incoherent  rhapsody." 

SECTION  XIII. — Consult  the  best  authors  who  have  uwritten 
upon  the  subject  you  propose  to  discuss. 

A  distinguished  philosopher,  treating  upon  the  in- 
ventive powers  of  the  human  mind,  remarked  that 
we  learn  to  invent  by  becoming  acquainted  with  the. 
inventions  of  others.  And  further  intimates,  that 
even  Byron  found  it  necessary  to  quicken  his  powers 
of  invention  by  the  perusal  of  works  similar  in  cha- 
racter to  those  in  the  production  of  which  he  was 
then  engaged.  The  human  mind  cannot  think  un- 
less materials  of  thought  are  furnished  ;  these  mate- 
rials are  furnished  by  reading.  "  A  convincing 
proof,"  says  Mr.  Sturtevant,  "of  the  benefit  of  read- 
ing the  works  of  others  is  furnished  in  our  judges 
and  leading  counselors,  who  appear  to  have  suc- 
ceeded in  the  attainment  of  true  eloquence  above 
any  [other]  order  of  men  in  the  world ;  and  this 
because  they  are  the  most  penetrating  and  diligent 
readers  of  the  laws  of  nations,  their  ancient  constitu- 
tions, laws,  customs  of  their  country,  and  of  the  com- 


180  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

mentaries  and  adjudged  cases  v,)iat  have  been  pub- 
lished upon  laws."  Originality  of  genius  is  never  to 
be  reached  by  the  neglect  of  reading ;  nor  can  any 
one,  without  extensive  and  varied  reading,  expect 
to  rise  above  respectable  mediocrity. 

Yet  in  consulting  the  opinions  of  others,  and 
availing  ourselves  of  the  materials  collected  by  them, 
just  restrictions  and  limits  are  to  be  observed. 
Gaussen  tells  us,  "  A  man  must  not  go  first  to  com- 
mentators till  he  has  drawn  his  own  well  dry."* 
Ostervald  also  judiciously  remarks,  "  A  minister 
should  do  all  he  can  for  himself  before  he  has  re- 
course to  commentators.  This  method  will  develop 
and  improve  your  genius  ;  whereas,  if  you  steal  away 
the  books  from  those  who  are  in  the  habit  of  plagi- 
arism, they  are  confounded  before  their  audience. 
Arguments  honestly  drawn  from  your  own  mind 
have  an  air  of  originality,  which  convinces  and  per- 
suades much  better  than  a  multifarious  collection 
from  other  mens'  works.  Besides,  it  imboldens  a 
preacher ;  a  sermon  purely  his  own  makes  a  much 
more  happy  impression  both  on  his  memory  and 
heart,  than  that  which  he  has  transcribed  from 
others.  Make  it  therefore  an  invariable  rule,  to  do 
all  you  can  for  yourselves,  and  never  follow  those 
who,  before  considering  their  subject,  have  imme- 
diate recourse  to  commentators." 

*  Non  prius  commentatores  adeat,  <;iuam  ipsi  aqua  hoereai.— 
De  i.rie  Cenciontmdi. 


COMMUNICATION   OF   KNOWLEDGE.       181 

SECTION  XIV. — Let  your  men  feelings  be  aUuned  to  har~ 
many  with  the  spirit  of  the  subject. 

To  have  the  mind  penetrated  with  the  emotions  we 
would  describe  is  essential  to  true  eloquence,  and  in 
this  lies  much  of  its  force  and  efl'ect.  A  clergyman 
who  heard  Mr.  Whitefield,  when  he  preached  at 
Norwich,  on  "  the  great  white  throne,"  relates,  that 
"  after  '  the  books  were  opened,'  and  the  prisonei 
had  been  impeached,  the  Judge  asked  him,  '  Prisoner 
at  the  bar !  what  hast  thou  to  say  in  thy  own  de- 
fense ?  What  exceptions  canst  thou  take  to  the 
witnesses  ?'  The  prisoner  was  silent.  '  What !  hast 
thou  nothing  to  say  ?'  The  prisoner  continued  silent. 
The  preacher  then  cried  out,  '  Bring  my  cap  i  I 
mean  my  condemning  cap  !'  Upon  this,  Mr.  White- 
field  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears,  and  a  general  weep- 
ing followed  throughout  all  the  congregation."  This 
divine  unction,  which  constitutes  the  gist,  and  in  a 
great  measure  the  power  of  eloquence,  is  even  more 
indispensable  than  reasoning  itself;  for  the  soundest 
reasoning  without  it  will  fall  powerless  to  the  ground. 
"  If  you  wish  me  to  weep,  you  should  first  show 
yourself  to  be  affected  with  grief,"*  is  an  old  and 
expressive  adage  concerning  eloquence.  Erasmus 
also  declares,  "  Nothing  is  of  greater  potency  to  ex- 
cite good  affections  in  others,  than  to  have  the  foun- 
tain of  such  pious  feelings  within  one's  own  breast. "| 

*  Si  vis  me  flere,  dolendum  est  primum  ipsi  tibi. 
1  Nilii)  potentius  ad  excitandos  bonos  affectos.  quam  priorun 
aflVoluum  f.-"item  habere  in  pectore. 


182  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

The  best  models  of  eloquence  have  practiced  and 
the  best  teachers  of  it  have  inculcated  this  as  a  pri- 
mary element  of  true  eloquence.  Dr.  Mason,  in  his 
Student  and  Pastor,  says,  "  The  mind  should  be  well 
seasoned  with  the  discourse  before  it  be  delivered. 
It  is  not  enough  to  be  master  of  your  notes,  but  you 
must  enter  into  the  spirit  of  your  subject.  Call  in 
everything  that  is  proper  to  improve  it,  and  to  raise 
and  animate  your  mind  in  the  contemplation  of  it." 

This  harmony  between  the  feelings  of  the  public 
speaker  and  his  subject  will  conduce  much  to  the 
perfection  of  his  language  and  diction.  "  If  the  sub- 
ject be  clearly  conceived,"  says  Mr.  Ostervald,  "  and 
deeply  impressed  upon  the  heart,  you  will  certainly 
express  yourselves  in  appropriate  language.  Tlie 
passions  are  all  eloquent."  Gaussen  also  presents 
further  considerations  upon  the  same  point, — "  For 
this  will  be  the  effect :  from  the  fullness  of  his  heart 
he  will  pour  forth  suitable  expressions.  And  be- 
cause these  are  furnished  by  the  very  nature  of  the 
subject  under  discussion,  and  not  by  the  industry 
of  the  speaker,  who  suppi-esses  all  high-sounding 
phraseology  and  attempts  at  hyperbole,  they  will  be 
as  appropriate  to  the  subjects  of  the  discourse,  as  a 
well-formed  garment  gracefully  befits  the  person  of 
the  wearer.  His  style  will  exhibit  a  manly  strength 
and  words  pregnant  with  sentiments,  such  words 
being  not  the  mere  signs  of  things,  but  vivid  repre- 
sentations of  them,  and  their  express  images."* 

*  Nam  ita  fiet  ut  ex  plenitudine  pectoris  verba  fundat,  quae, 
quiaipsa  rerum  natura,  non  diccntis  industria,  suppeditat,  amot« 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       ]83 

Another  reason  why  the  orator  should  Lave  his 
dAvri  feelings  imbued  -with  the  spirit  of  his  subject  is, 
that  no  mere  art  or  imitation  can  supply  the  want 
Heat  can  never  be  imparted  to  a  painted  flame,  how- 
ever exquisite  the  art  of  the  painter.  So  it  is  im- 
possible for  the  speaker  to  give  utterance  to  emotions 
that  do  not  exist  in  his  own  soul.  "  Orators,"  says 
Fenelon,  in  his  Dialogues  upon  Eloquence,  "  are  in 
most  cases,  like  poets,  who  write  elegies  or  other 
pathetic  poems,  they  must  feel  the  passion  they  de- 
scribe, or  else  they  can  never  paint  it  well.  The 
greatest  art  imaginable  can  never  speak  like  true 
passion  and  undisguised  nature.  Hence  you  will 
always  be  an  imperfect  orator,  if  you  be  not  tho- 
roughly impressed  with  the  sentiments  you  would 
paint  and  communicate  to  others." 

To  the  sacred  orator  this  genuine  sensibility  of 
soul  is  indispensable.  Any  affectation  of  it  will  not 
be  tolerated  by  a  discriminating  auditory  even  upon 
the  stage;  how  then  can  it  be  in  the  pulpit?  But 
to  be  entirely  destitute  of  it,  is  to  be  unfitted  for  the 
ministry.  "  Now  our  proposition  is,"  says  Dr.  An- 
drew Reed,  "  that  deep  emotion  of  the  heart  is  not 
only  proper  but  indispensable  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  so  that  should  a  person  either  from  physi- 
cal or  spiritual  causes  have  his  affections  in  so  dull 
and  obtuse  a  state  as  not  to  allow  a  corresponding 

omni  vcrborum  tumore,  sine  ulla  hyperbole,  rebus  non  secus  ac 
vestis  corpore  aptissime  adliaerebunt.  Erit  in  illius  stilo  virilo 
quoddam  robur,  ac  plense  sententiarurn  voces,  quaererum  non  tana 
signa  erunt,  quam  vividae  qusedam  et  express*  imagines.— Dt 
4rti  Concionandi 


184  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

feeling  with  the  truth  to  be  uttered,  he  is  disqualified 
for  the  high  and  important  service.  lie  would  foil 
to  produce  a  conviction  of  the  truth  of  his  message 
in  the  minds  of  those  who  heard  it ;  he  would  fail  to 
produce  even  the  conviction  that  he  believed  it  himself." 

The  same  author,  in  endeavoring  to  show  that 
u  deep  emotion  "  is  one  of  the  essential  qualities  of 
"  an  efficient  ministry,"  says,  "  By  emotion  I  do  not 
mean  a  forced  physical  excitement.  There  are 
many  speakers  who  have  inadequate  views  of  the 
important  truths  they  utter,  and  whose  affections 
have  little  sympathy  with  them,  who  nevertheless 
t<i.<k  themselves  to  be  animated  and  striking,  that 
they  may  be  acceptable  and  popular,  as  though  any 
man  were  truly  eloquent  by  trying  to  be  so !  The 
effect  is,  that  they  overstep  '  the  modesty  of  nature, 
and  do  violence  to  taste  and  reason.  In  trying  to  be 
forcible,  they  are  extravagant ;  in  laboring  to  be 
pathetic,  they  whine  and  whimper ;  and  in  stririnr/ 
to  feel,  they  become  turgid  in  the  extreme.  There 
is  a  great  deal  of  vociferation,  and,  beside  it — nothing. 
Such  services  are  of  very  questionable  efficacy. 

"  Nor,  by  emotion,  do  I  refer  with  commendation 
to  that  softness  of  nature  which  disposes  an  individual 
to  undue  sensibility,  and  even  to  tears,  on  slight  oc- 
casions and  on  trivial  subjects.  This  is  mere  weak- 
ness, and  sensible  weakness  in  a  minister  can  never 
give  power  to  his  ministrations. 

"  Finally,  by  emotion,  I  do  not  understand  those 
occasional  and  sudden  gusts  of  real  but  animal  feel- 
ing into  which  some  speakers  work  themselves,  and 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      185 

which  spring  from  no  sufficient  cause,  and  defy  all 
'jontrol  of  judgment  and  reason.  To  command 
others,  we  must  command  ourselves.  It  must  be 
felt  that  thought  rises  with  passion,  and  that  we  are 
never  so  truly  natural  as  when  we  are  deeply  im- 
passioned. 

"  By  emotion,  I  refer  to  that  deep  earnestness  of 
the  soul,  which  is  created  by  the  truth  strongly  per- 
ceived and  entirely  believed,  and  the  consequent 
quick  and  holy  sympathy  of  all  the  affections  with  the 
word  the  minister  has  to  deliver,  and  the  circum- 
stances in  which  he  is  placed.  Such  emotions  evi- 
dently would  indicate  neither  weakness  nor  wild- 
ness.  It  would  be  in  keeping  with  the  subject,  and, 
appearing  only  when  it  was  demanded,  its  presence 
would  be  life  and  power.  It  would  suggest  the  just 
action  ;  it  would  give  the  just  intonation  ;  it  would 
create  the  just  expression.  Everything  would  speak? 
and  speak  eloquently,  and  would  carry  to  the  con- 
science of  the  hearer  that  conviction  of  sincerity  and 
power  in  the  speaker  which  nothing  else  could  sup- 
ply." We  may  add,  no  one  should  ever  undertake 
a  subject  in  the  sacred  desk,  which  he  does  not  deem 
of  sufficient  importance  to  awaken  the  sympathies  of 
his  heart ;  and  when  the  heart  is  touched,  the  intel- 
lect will  be  quickened  and  all  its  "energies  inspired. 

SECTION  XV. — Remember  that  the  intellectual  powers  an 
quickened  by  devotion  and  devotional  feelings. 

An  example  may  be  afforded  to  the  Christian  min- 
ister in  the  practice  of  the  ancient  heathen,  who  were 


186  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

accustomed  to  invoke  the  aid  of  the  Deity  when  they 
encaged  in  literary  enterprises.  We  have  an  ex- 
ample of  this  in  Homer,  who  begins  both  his  Iliad 
and  Odyssey  with  an  invocation  to  Deity.  So  Mu- 
seus  begins  his  Song  of  Hero  and  Leander,  Hesiod 
his  Works  and  Days,  and  Ovid  his  Metamorphoses 
Hence  the — a  Jove  principium  musce — of  the  Latins. 
On  the  same  point  might  we  cite  many  of  our  mo- 
dern poets.  And  many  of  our  wisest  and  best  men 
have  thought  it  indispensable  to  connect  the  exercise 
of  devotion  with  the  prosecution  of  study.  Luther, 
and  after  him  the  pious  Dr.  Watts,  claimed  that 
"  praying  was  the  best  study."*  And  Dr.  Saunder- 
son  declared,  "  Study  without  prayer  is  atheism." 
While  St.  James  enjoins,  "  If  any  of  you  lack  wis- 
dom, let  him  ask  of  God." 

"  The  duties  of  the  Christian  minister  are  spiritual 
duties,  and  require,  therefore,  spiritual  and  devo- 
tional habits  of  thought  and  feeling.  If  the  state  of 
the  mind  correspond  with  the  character  of  the  sub- 
ject on  which  intellectual  energy  is  to  be  employed, 
the  employment  becomes  easy  and  delightful ;  if 
otherwise,  it  is  difficult,  if  not  irksome.  The  hours 
expended  in  the  preparation  of  discourses  for  the 
pulpit,  may,  on  these  principles,  be  either  among  the 
most  happy  or  the'most  distressing  of  a  studious  life. 
Under  the  influence  of  devotional  excitement,  with 
•what  clearness  and  with  what  beauty  may  an  in- 
teresting passage  in  the  word  of  God  unfold  its 
meaning  to  the  eye  of  the  mind !  It  becomes  at 
*  Bene  orasse,  est  bene  studuisse. 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       187 

once  a  source  of  spiritual  delight,  and  a  theme  for 
pulpit  discussion.  The  truths  it  inculcates  or  in- 
volves present  themselves  in  quick  succession  to  the 
meditating  mind,  and  seem  to  arrange  themselves, 
without  difficulty,  in  an  order  the  most  natural  and 
correct."  To  be  an  efficient  minister  of  a  spiritual 
gospel,  a  man  must  possess  a  spiritual  and  powerful 
perception  of  truth,  which  may  be  obtained  only  by 
combining  prayer  with  study. 

Devotional  feelings  will  not  only  inspire  an  ardor 
in  study,  but  especially  clothe  the  Christian  minister 
with  power  in  the  delivery.  "When  the  time  for 
the  delivery  of  his  discourse  draws  near,"  says 
Erasmus,  "  let  the  preacher  profoundly  and  earnestly 
devote  himself  to  importunate  entreaty  and  suppli- 
cation, and  let  him  ask  wisdom,  utterance,  and  suc- 
cess for  his  sermon,  from  Him  who  makes  even  the 
tongues  of  infants  eloquent.  It  would  seem  almost 
incredible,  were  I  to  describe  how  great  is  the  light, 
the  vigor,  the  strength,  and  the  cheerfulness,  which 
from  this  pious  exercise  accrue,  not  only  to  a  preach- 
er, but  also  to  every  man  who  is  about  to  engage  in 
the  performance  of  difficult  and  important  duties."* 

"  He,"  says  Mr.  Sutclifle,  "  who,  like  Moses,  speaks 
with  God  before  he  addresses  the  people,  acquires  a 

*  Sub  horam  concionis  ecclesiastes  det  se  profunde  depreo 
tioni ;  et  ab  eo  postulet  sapientiam,  linguam,  et  orationis  eventum, 
qui  linguas  infantium  facit  disertas.  Incredibile  dictu  quantum 
lucis,  quantum  vigoris,  quantumque  robons  atque  alacritatis  hinc 
arcedat  ecclesiastse,  imo  cunctis  hominibus  ad  quodvis  unquam 
negotium  arduum  suscipiendum  et  peragendum. — De  Arte  Co» 
cionandi 


188  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

gravity,  and,  if  I  may  so  speak,  a  moral  glory  of 
aspect,  which  enables  him  to  preach  with  fervor 
from  on  high."  Mr.  Shuttleworth,  in  his  Speculum 
Sacrum,  relates  the  following  incident,  which  is  worth 
preserving  in  this  connection  :—  "  Robert  Bruce  was 
minister  in  Edinburgh,  and  much  esteemed  by  our 
James  II.  Having  to  preach  on  a  solemn  occasion, 
he  was  late  in  coming  to  the  congregation.  Some 
of  the  people  beginning  to  be  weary,  and  others 
wondering  at  his  stay,  the  bells  having  been  rung 
long,  and  the  time  far  spent,  the  beadle  was  desired 
to  go  and  learn  the  reason ;  who,  coming  to  his  house, 
and  finding  his  chamber  door  shut,  and  hearing  a 
sound,  drew  near ;  and  listening,  overheard  Mr. 
Bruce  often,  with  much  seriousness,  say,  '  I  protest, 
I  will  not  go  except  thou  go  with  me.'  Whereupon, 
supposing  some  man  was  in  company  with  him,  with- 
dreAv  without  knocking  at  the  door,  and  reported  to 
the  waiting  congregation  that  some  person  was  with 
the  minister,  whom  he  was  pressing  to  come  witli 
him,  and  declaring  that  he  would  not  come  without 
him.  Mr.  Bruce  soon  after  came,  accompanied  by 
no  man,  but  he  came  in  the  fullness  of  the  blessing 
of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  his  speech  and  his  prcach- 
inw  were  in  such  evidence  and  demonstration  of  the 

O 

Spirit,  that  it  was  easy  for  his  hearers  to  perceive  be 
had  been  in  the  mount  with  God." 

"AVhen  devotion,  with  its  sacred  torch,"  ?aya 
Gaussen,  "has  inflamed  the  heart  of  the  preacher,  it 
carries  him  out  beyond  himself,  and  scarcely  permits 
him  to  have  the  control  of  his  powers.  That  person, 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      18U 

therefore,  seems  to  have  answered  with  much  truth 
and  wisdom,  who,  on  being  asked  by  his  friend  what 
was  the  best  method  he  could  adopt  for  making  a 
rapid  progress  in  Christian  eloquence,  said,  '  Your 
progress  in  that,  will  be  in  proportion  to  the  interest 
of  your  love  of  Christ.'  "* 

PRAYER    OF    THOMAS    AQUINAS    BEFORE    STUDY- 
ING   OR    PREACHING.f 

[A  free  translation.] 

Great  Creator ;  ineffable  God !  who  from  the 
treasures  of  thy  wisdom  hast  created  the  different 
orders  of  angels  and  placed  them  in  marvelous  rank 
above  the  empyreal  heavens,  and  hast  most  gloriouslj 
arranged  the  various  parts  of  the  universe ;  thou !  1 
beseech,  who  art  the  true  fount  of  light  and  wisdom, 

*  Devotio  curn  ecclesiasten  suis  ussit  facibus,  eum  rapit  extra 
se,  nee  sui  satis  compotem  esse  sinit:  ut  verre  et  scite  respon- 
disse  videafur  qui  interrogatus  ab  ainico,  qua  via  potissimurn 
magnum  eloquentia  Christiana  progressum  faceret?  Si,  inquit, 
maxime  ames  Christum. — De  Arte  Concionandi. 

t  Creator,  ineffabilis  Deus !  qui  de  thesauris  sapiential  tune 
novem  ordines  angelorum  informasti,  et  eos  miro  ordine  super 
coelum  empyreum  collocasti,  elegantissime  partes  nniversi  dis- 
posuisti ;  tu  '.  inquam,  qui  verus  fons  lurninis  ct  sapientiae  diceris, 
atque  superemineus  principium,  infundere  dignaris  super  irtel- 
lectui  nostri  tenebras  tuae  radium  claritatis  ;  duplicem,  in  qua 
nati  sumus,  removeas  privationem,  peccatum,  S.  et  ignoratiam 
Qui !  linguas  infantium  facis  disertas,  iinguam  meam  erudias, 
atque  id  labiis  meis  gratiarti  tuae  henedictionis  infundas  Da  mihj 
intelligendi  acumen,  retinendi  capacitatem,  interspectandi  sut> 
tilitatem,  addiscendi  facultatem,  loquendi  gratiam  copiosam  : 
pressum  instruas,  processam  dirigas,  et  egressum  compleas 
Amen, 


190  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

— the  Highest  of  the  high — spread  over  the  dark- 
ness of  our  understanding  the  radiance  of  thy  light; 
remove  the  twofold  degradation  in  which  we  are 
born — sin  and  ignorance.  Thou  !  who  makest  elo- 
quent the  tongues  of  babes,  make  eloquent  my  tongue 
and  pour  out  upon  my  lips  the  favor  of  thy  benedic- 
tion. Grant  unto  me  an  acuteness  of  understanding, 
a  capacity  of  retaining,  a  depth  of  investigation,  a 
faculty  of  continually  learning,  and  an  overflowing 
copiousness  of  speech :  point  out  my  path,  direct 
my  progress,  and  complete  my  course.  Amen. 

SECTION  XVI. — In  order  to  communicate  knowledge  with 
effect,  be  impressed  with  tlie  importance  of  being  able  to  ex- 
press yourself  with  self-possession^  readiness,  clearness,  pre 
cision,  and  force. 

To  be  able  to  speak  effectively  is  to  be  eloquent. 
Socrates  defines  eloquence  to  be  the  power  of  per- 
suading ;  Cicero  defines  it  to  be  speaking  in  a  per- 
suasive manner:  Quintilian,  speaking  well;  and  a 
modern  lecturer,  gpeakmg  out.  But,  differ  as  philo- 
logists may  about  its  definition,  true  eloquence  is  not 
likely  to  be  mistaken,  nor  undervalued.  Some  of 
the  elements  of  effective  speaking  we  have  imbodiecl 
ir<  the  above  precept 

1.  Self-po^sesfion.  This  collectedness  ot  mind, 
and  independence  denoted  by  self-possession,  arc 
indispensable  to  the  public  speaker.  Says  a  master 
in  the  art,  "  The  orator  should  keep  up  a  self-com- 
mand and  a  becoming  presence  of  mind,  and  get 
above  a  low,  servile  fear  of  man."  A  speaker  who 


COMMUNICATION   OP  KNOWLEDGE.       1'Jl 

is  afraid  of  his  auditory  can  never  command  them ; 
nor  can  one  who  cannot  command  himself.  This 
fear  cramps  the  genius  of  the  speaker,  restricts  the 
flow  of  his  thought,  renders  his  manner  awkward 
and  stiff,  if  not  peurile  and  foolish.  Does  he  attempt 
to  draw  out  a  sentence  ?  he  stammers  and  falters. 
Does  he  attempt  to  use  a  rhetorical  figure  ?  he  is 
afraid  to  carry  it  out ;  and  so  stops  in  the  middle,  or 
flats  out  into  such  a  tone  and  manner  that  the  figure 
loses  its  force,  and  often  becomes  ridiculous.  Does 
he  attempt  a  gesture  ?  he  is  afraid  to  give  boldness 
and  expression  to  it,  and  awkwardly  catches  back 
his  arm,  or  holds  it  in  a  ridiculous  posture.  The 
timidity  and  fear  he  manifests,  and  his  evident  con- 
straint and  perplexity,  affect  the  sympathies  of  his 
auditors  to  such  a  degree  that  the  discourse  com- 
pletely loses  its  effect, 

"  If  perfectly  at  ease,"  says  Professor  Ware,  "  he 
would  have  everything  at  command,  and  be  able  to 
pour  out  his  thoughts  in  lucid  order,  and  with  de- 
sirable variety  of  manner  and  expression.  But 
when  thrown  from  his  self-possession  he  can  do  no- 
thing better  than  to  mechanically  string  together 
words,  while  there  is  no  soul  in  them,  because  his 
mental  powers  are  spell-bound  and  imbecile.  He 
stammers,  hesitates,  and  stumbles,  or,  at  best,  talks 
on,  without  object  or  aim,  as  mechanically  and  un- 
consciously as  an  automaton.  He  has  learned  little 
effectually  until  he  has  learned  to  be  collected. 
This,  therefore,  must  be  a  leading  object  of  attention. 
It  will  not  be  attained  by  a  man  of  delicacy  and 


192  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

sensibility,  except  by  long  and  trying  practice.  It 
will  be  the  result  of  much  rough  experience,  and 
many  mortifying  failures.  And,  after  all,  occasion 
may  occur  when  the  most  experienced  will  be  put 
off  their  guard.  Still,  however,  much  may  be  done 
by  the  control  which  a  vigorous  mind  has  over  itself, 
by  resolute  and  persevering  determination,  by  re- 
fusing to  shrink  or  give  way,  and  by  preferring 
always  the  mortification  of  ill  success  to  the  weak- 
ness that  would  grow  out  of  retreating." 

2.  Readiness.  Opposed  to  readiness  is  hesitation  : 
whether  resulting  from  defective  vocal  organs,  la- 
bored effort  to  reclaim  half-forgotten  thoughts,  habit, 
unmanly  diffidence,  or  any  other  cause.  Such  a 
delivery  is  painful  to  the  listener ;  and,  unless  ex- 
traneous or  incidental  circumstances  give  interest  to 
the  discourse,  it  will  fail  to  interest,  and  consequent- 
ly, in  a  great  measure,  to  profit,  however  replete  it 
may  be  in  valuable  matter,  or  however  apposite  to 
the  occasion  and  the  assembly.  By  readiness,  how- 
ever, we  would  not  be  understood  to  mean  that 
peculiar  flippancy  with  which  shallow  minds  "  show 
off:"  but  ability  to  speak  with  suitable  promptness 
and  decision.  It  is  remarked  that  "  shallow  waters 
are  easily  drained  off,"  and  unquestionably  there  is 
a  certain  readiness  of  speech  which  is  much  admired 
by  some,  but  which  springs  from  the  very  shallow- 
ness  of  the  thoughts ;  while  those  who  speak  with 
meditation  are  often  slow  and  hesitating  till  they 
become  warmed  with  the  subject.  The  prompt 
command  of  language  to  express  the  thoughts  we 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      193 

have,  is  to  be  regarded  not  only  as  a  mental  excel- 
lence in  itself,  but  to  a  public  speaker  it  is  indispen- 
sable. In  a  philosopher,  like  Locke  or  Newton, 
hesitation  may  be  tolerated ;  but  in  one  whose  pro- 
tession  is  public  speaking  it  is  inexcusable. 

3.  Clearness  or  perspicuity.  By  clearness  is  meant 
a  luminousness  and  perspicuity  of  thought  and  ex- 
pression that  convey  the  meaning  of  the  author  dis- 
tinctly to  the  mind  of  the  hearer.  It  is  opposed  to 
that  mistiness  which  seems  to  give  an  indistinct  out- 
line and  color  to  everything.  Perspicuity  is  one  of 
the  highest  principles  of  eloquence.*  Professor 
Ostervald  says,  "  It  is  the  soul  of  discourse.  It  con- 
sist, in  having  simple  and  natural  ideas  of  what  we 
say.  Things  must  be  clearly  conceived  in  order  to 
make  them  understood  by  others.  Abstract  reason- 
ings are  not  apprehended  by  the  body  of  the  peo- 
ple." Perspicuity  also  depends  upon  the  terms 
employed.  Though  the  ideas  of  the  speaker  may 
be  clear  to  himself,  if  he  use  scholastic  words,  meta- 
phorical and  figurative  language,  the  thoughts  will 
be  rendered  obscure  to  the  multitude,  through  their 
not  comprehending  the  definition  of  his  words  and 
the  meaning  f>(  his  metaphors. 

The  public  speaker  must  not  only  have  a  keen 
perception  of  the  relations  of  things — truths  as  well 
as  principles — but  ability  to  give  distinct  expression 
to  them. 

*  Prima  est  eloquentiae  virtus,  perspicuitas ;  et  quo  quisque  in- 
genio  minus  valet,  hoc  se  magis  attollere  et  dilatare  conatur  ;  ut 
statnra  breves  in  digitos  eriguntur,  et  plura  infinni  mirmitur  — 
Quintilian 

13 


194  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

This  distinct  perception  is  essential  to  the  forming 
of  his  own  judgment.  "  If,"  says  Mr.  Locke,  "in 
having  our  ideas  in  the  memory  ready  at  hand  con- 
sists quickness  of  parts ;  in  this  of  having  them  un- 
confused,  and  being  able  to  distinguish  one  thing 
from  another,  where  there  is  but  the  least  difference, 
consists,  in  a  great  measure,  the  exactness  of  judg- 
ment and  clearness  of  reason  which  are  to  be  observed 
in  one  man  above  another."  From  what  we  have 
already  observed  it  is  evident  that  clearness  of  ex- 
pression is  not  a  necessary  consequent  upon  clear- 
ness of  thought.  "  It  is  one  thing,"  continues  Mr. 
Locke,  "  to  think  right,  and  another  thing  to  know 
the  right  way  to  lay  our  thoughts  before  others  with 
advantage  and  clearness." 

"  Thought  in  mine,  may  come  forth  gold  or  dross." 

Many,  who  cannot  be  supposed  to  be  deficient  in 
clearness  of  thought,  are  nevertheless  dark,  obscure, 
and  unintelligible  in  delivery.  There  is  not  an  exact 
correspondence  between  the  mental  process  and  the 
verbal  expression  of  it.  Many  of  the  little  links  that 
were  carefully  secured  in  the  mental  process,  jiml 
that  were  essential  to  the  perfection  of  the  chain,  are 
omitted  in  the  expression  of  the  train  of  reasoning. 
Oliver  Cromwell  is  a  striking  illustration  in  point : 
"  All  accounts,"  says  Mr.  Hume,  "  agree  in  ascribing 
to  Cromwell  a  tiresome,  dark,  and  unintelligible  elo- 
cution, even  where  he  had  no  intention  to  disguise 
his  meaning ;  yet  no  man's  actions  were  ever,  in  such 
a  variety  of  difficult  cases,  more  decisive  and  judi- 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      195 

v'ious."  This  will  do  for  the  military  adventurer, 
who  is  to  be  understood  by  his  actions,  and  not  by 
his  words;  it  will  do  for  the  business  man,  who  has 
occasion  but  seldom  to  explain  the  processes  of  his 
reasoning;  but  not  for  the  public  speaker.  His 
thoughts  should  be  like  coins  issued  from  the  mint, 
each — the  least  as  well  as  the  greatest — clear  in  its 
imprint,  and  retaining  all  its  original  lustre.  He 
should  speak  so  that  the  hearer  not  only  "  may  be 
able  to  understand,  if  he  wish ;  but  that  he  may  not 
be  able  not  to  understand,  whether  he  cares  to  or 
not." 

4.  Precision.  Precision  is  closely  allied  to  perspi- 
cuity. It  consists  in  using  such  language  as  will 
readily  convey  the  exact  ideas  of  the  speaker  to  the 
mind  of  the  hearer.  It  implies  not  only  freedom 
from  obscurity,  but  also  from  redundancy  of  expres- 
sion and  from  meretricious  ornament.  Mr.  Webster, 
one  of  the  most  eloquent  speakers,  as  well  as  one  of 
the  profoundest  thinkers  of  the  age,  is  remarkable 
for  clearness  and  precision,  and  at  the  same  time  his 
speeches  are  remarkably  free  from  similes,  meta- 
phors, &c.  They  are  an  accumulation  of  massive 
rcasoni"g,  and  he,  when  once  questioned  as  10  the 
secret  of  his  power,  said  that  it  arose  from  the  fact 
that  he  always  clothed  his  ideas  in  plain  old  Saxon. 
How  different  this,  from  the  style  of  those  who  im- 
agi'ie  that  truth  cannot  be  eloquent  unless  burnished 
\vi'  ,  laboriously  wrought  ornament,  and  who  are 
^ver  storming  the  minds  of  their  auditories  with 
what  Mr.  Pope  calls  "  a  mob  of  metaphor"  1" 


196  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

Metaphors  and  similes  are  not,  however,  without 
their  use.  They  often  render  that  apparent  which 
would  otherwise  be  obscure  to  minds  unaccustomed 
to  rigid  thought,  or  of  slow  comprehension.  They 
also  often  give  additional  force  to  that  which  was 
previously  apprehended.  Mr.  Locke,  unquestion- 
ably, carries  his  aversion  to  them  to  an  extreme,  yet 
there  is  much  truth  in  the  following  reflections: — 
"  They  who  in  their  discourse  strike  the  fancy,  and 
take  the  hearer's  conceptions  along  with  them  as 
fast  as  their  words  flow,  are  the  applauded  talker?, 
and  go  for  the  only  men  of  clear  thoughts.  Nothing 
contributes  so  much  to  this  as  similes. . .  .  Well-chosen 
similes,  metaphors,  and  allegories,  with  method  and 
order,  do  this  the  best  of  anything,  because,  being 
taken  from  objects  already  known,  and  familiar  to 
the  understanding,  they  are  conceived  as  fast  as 
spoken,  and  the  correspondence  being  concluded, 
the  thing  they  are  brought  to  elucidate  is  thought  to 
be  understood  too.  Thus  fancy  passes  for  know- 
ledge, and  what  is  prettily  said  is  mistaken  for  solid." 

5.  Force.  By  force  is  meant  a  sort  of  spiritual  im- 
petus and  power  with  which  the  thoughts  are  deliver- 
ed. A  speaker  may  be  ready  in  his  delivery,  clear  in 
his  conceptions,  concise  in  expression,  and  yet  be  iu- 
eipid  and  powerless.  Force  in  oratory  is  that  which 
gives  just  expression  to  the  sentiment.  It  originates  in 
an  energy  of  soul  that  gives  propulsion  to  thought  It 
is  manifested  in  the  intonations  of  the  voice,  the  ex- 
pressions of  the  countenance,  the  flashings  of  the  eye, 
the  expressive  gesticulation,  and  the  very  posture  of 


COMMUNICATION  CF  KNOWLEDGE.       197 

the  body.  All  these,  however,  must  be  only  the  out- 
beamings  of  a  spirit  stirring  within.  Imitation  of  it 
at  the  bar  is  censurable,  in  the  pulpit  it  is  revolting. 
When  Demosthenes  was  interrogated  as  to  the  first 
element  of  eloquence,  he  replied,  action;  when  asked 
the  second,  he  repeated,  action;  and  also,  when  asked 
again,  he  responded,  action.  The  school-boy  will 
not  soon  forget  Webster's  "  Character  of  True  Elo- 
quence ;"  nor  yet  his  "  action,  noble,  sublime,  god- 
like action." 

SECTION  XVII. — Accustom  yourself  to    extemporaneous 
discourse. 

In  order  to  communicate  truth,  and  especially  reli- 
gious truth,  with  the  greatest  force  and  effect,  the 
speaker  must  be  brought  into  immediate  contact 
with  the  sympathies,  the  hearts  of  his  hearers.  Thia 
can  be  done — we  will  not  say  only,  but  best,  in  ex- 
temporaneous discourse ;  in  which  the  thoughts  pos- 
sess a  freshness  and  vivacity  rarely  attained  in  writ- 
ten sermons,  and  in  their  delivery  are  accompanied 
with  a  force  of  expression  and  a  sympathy  of  feeling 
seldom  evinced  in  reading.  Professor  Ware,  in  his 
Essay  on  Extemporaneous  Preaching,  here  quoted 
from  the  Preacher's  Manual,  presents  the  subject  in 
a  very  clear  and  convincing  manner. 

"  That  the  advantages  of  extemporaneous  dis- 
course are  real  and  substantial,  may  be  safely  infer- 
red from  the  habit  of  public  orators  in  other  profes- 
sions, and  from  the  effects  which  they  are  known 
to  produce.  There  is  more  natural  warmth  in  the 


,.98  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

declamation,  more  earnestness  in  the  address,  greater 
animation  in  the  manner,  more  of  the  lighting  up  of 
the  soul  in  the  countenance  and  whole  mien,  moie 
freedom  and  meaning  in  the  gesture  ;  the  eye  speaks, 
and  the  finger  speaks,  and  when  the  orator  is  so  ex- 
cited as  to  forget  everything  but  the  matter  on  which 
his  mind  and  feelings  are  acting,  the  whole  body  is 
affected  and  helps  to  propagate  his  emotions  to  the 
hearer.  Amid  all  the  exaggerated  coloring  of  Pat- 
rick Henry's  biographer,  there  is  doubtless  enough 
that  is  true  to  prove  a  power  in  the  spontaneous 
energy  of  an  excited  speaker,  superior  in  its  effects 
to  anything  that  can  be  produced  by  writing. 

"  In  deliberative  assemblies,  in  senates  and  parlia- 
ments, the  larger  portion  of  the  speaking  is  neces- 
sarily unpremeditated ;  perhaps  the  most  eloquent  is 
always  so,  for  it  is  elicited  by  the  growing  of  debate. 
It  is  the  spontaneous  combustion  of  the  mind  in  the 
conflict  of  opinion.  Chatham's  speeches  were  not 
written,  nor  those  of  Fox,  nor  that  of  Ames  on  the 
British  treaty.  They  were,  so  far  as  regards  their 
language  and  ornaments,  the  effusions  of  the  mo- 
ment, and  derived  from  their  freshness  a  power 
which  no  study  could  impart.  Among  the  orations 
of  Cicero  which  are  said  to  have  made  the  greatest 
impression,  and  to  have  best  accomplished  the  ora- 
tor's design,  are  those  delivered  on  unexpected 
emergencies,  which  precluded  the  possibility  of  pre- 
vious preparation.  Such  were  his  inve<.  live  against 
Cataline,  and  the  speech  which  stilled  the  disturb- 
ances at  the  theatre.  In  all  these  cases,  there  can 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       199 

be  no  question  of  the  advantages  which  the  orators 
enjoyed  in  their  ability  to  make  use  of  the  excite- 
ment of  the  occasion,  unchilled  by  the  formality  of 
studied  preparation.  Although  possibly  guilty  of 
many  rhetorical  and  logical  faults,  yet  these  would 
be  unobserved  in  the  fervent  and  impassioned  tor- 
rent which  bore  away  the  minds  of  the  delighted 
auditors."  "  It  may  be  doubted,"  says  the  contributor 
of  an  able  article  in  the  Methodist  Quarterly  Re- 
view, "  whether  the  highest  kind  of  eloquence  can 
be  otherwise  attained ;  it  is  true,  at  least,  that  all 
the  great  masters  of  art,  Demosthenes  and  Cicero, 
Mirabeau  and  Chatham,  Grattan  and  Curran,  Henry 
and  Webster,  Whitefield  and  Hall,  have  been  most- 
ly '  extemporizers.' " 

That  to  the  generality  of  hearers  the  extempo-  i 
raneous  mode  of  address  is  more  attractive,  no  one 
can  question ;  since  any  ordinary  mixed  assembly 
will  be  more  interested  and  longer  entertained  with 
an  addre.-s  rf  ordinary  merit  as  to  matter,  than  with 
a  superior  discourse  read.  It  was  for  this  reason 
that  Cecil  advised  young  preachers  to  "  limit  a  writ- 
ten sermon  to  half  an  hour."  Another  consideration 
that  is  worthy  of  note,  as  it  certainly  possesses  weight, 
is,  that  the  power  of  extemporaneous  discourse  is 
held  in  high  estimation  among  men,  and  this  cannot 
fail  of  itself  to  conduce  to  the  influence  of  the  public 
speaker.  Occ  asions  will  also  occur  on  which  a  man 
unaccustomed  to  extemporaneous  speaking  will  be 
compelled  to  sit  still  and  forego  the  opportunity  for 
usefulness,  or  hazard  the  interests  of  a  good  cause 


200  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

1  y  an  awkward  effort  at  that  to  which  he  is  unac- 
customed, and  for  which  his  habits  have  rendered 
him  incompetent  Direct  speaking  is  also  the  na- 
tural mode  of  delivery,  and  hence  the  speaker  will 
express  himself  with  greater  animation  and  truer 
emphasis  than  he  who  is  under  the  necessity  of  di- 
recting his  eyes  and  his  thoughts  to  his  manuscript 
instead  of  his  subject. 

"  It  is  a  further  advantage,  not  to  be  forgotten 
here,  that  the  excitement  of  speaking  in  public  strikes 
out  new  views  of  a  subject,  new  illustrations,  and 
new  arguments,  which,  perhaps,  never  would  have 
presented  themselves  to  the  mind  in  retirement. 
4  The  warmth  which  animates  him,'  says  Fenelon, 
4  gives  birth  to  expressions  and  figures  which  he 
never  could  have  prepared  in  his  study.'  He  who 
possesses  suitable  self-confidence  as  an  extemporizer, 
will  readily  seize  upon  these,  and  be  astonished  at 
the  new  light  which  breaks  in  unon  him  as  he  goes 
on,  and  flashes  all  around  him." 

As  to  the  Scripture  warrant  for  extempore  preach- 
ing, we  may  at  least  claim  that  it  has  the  authority 
of  example,  which  is  more  than  can  be  said  of 
reading.  "  The  present  mode  of  reading  sermons," 
says  Suteliffe,  "  is  neither  supported  by  example  nor 
enjoined  by  precept  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  In  the 
synagogue  at  Nazareth,  our  Lord  read  a  passage  out 
of  the  Book  of  Isaiah,  then  closed  the  book  and  gave 
it  to  the  minister.  Philip,  in  teaching  the  noble 
eunuch,  began  at  the  scripture  he  was  reading,  and 
preached  Jesus."  Who  can  be  so  absurd  as  to  im« 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      201 

*gine  that  our  Saviour,  in  delivering  his  sermon  on 
the  mount,  read  from  a  manuscript  ?  Who  can  sup- 
pose that  Peter  used  notes  in  the  delivery  of  his  im- 
passioned sermon  on  the  day  of  Pentecost  ?  or  that 
Paul,  in  preaching  "  righteousness,  temperance,  and 
judgment,"  to  Felix,  or  "  Jesus  and  the  resurrec- 
tion "  to  the  Greek  critics  and  philosophers  on  Mars' 
Hill,  depended  upon  the  grace  and  refinement  of  a 
studied  composition,  rather  than  the  spontaneous 
gushing  up  of  thought  from  the  deep  resources  of 
his  own  genius,  transfused  with  glowing  life  by  the 
free  communications  of  the  Holy  Spirit  ? 

The  objections  mainly  urged  against  extempo- 
raneous discourse  have  generally  been  "  founded  on 
the  idea  that  by  extemporaneous  is  meant  unpre- 
meditated ;  whereas,  there  is  a  plain  and  important 
distinction  between  them,  the  latter  word  being  ap- 
plied to  the  thoughts,  and  the  former  to  the  language 
only.  To  preach  without  premeditation  is  altogether 
unjustifiable,  although  there  is  no  doubt  that  a  mau 
of  habitual  readiness  of  mind  may  express  himself  to 
great  advantage  with  a  subject  on  which  he  is  fami- 
liar, after  very  little  meditation." 

This  subject  is  of  so  much  moment  in  the  com- 
munication of  knowledge,  that  we  may  be  justified 
in  considering  in  detail  the  leading  objections,  which 
some  writers  on  pulpit  eloquence,  and  even  on  ora- 
tory in  general,  have  made  against  extemporaneous 
discourse. 

"  1.  The  objection  most  urged  is  one  that  relates 
to  style.  It  is  said,  the  expression  will  be  poor,  in« 


202  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

elegant,  inaccurate,  and  offensive  to  hearers  of  taste. 
"  To  those  who  urge  this,  it  may  be  replied,  thai 
the  reason  why  style  is  an  important  consideration 
in  the  pulpit  is,  not  that  the  taste  of  the  hearers  may 
be  gratified,  for  but  a  small  part  of  any  congregatioi? 
is  capable  of  taking  cognizance  of  this  matter,  but 
solely  for  the  purpose  of  presenting  the  speaker's 
thoughts,  reasonings,  and  expostulations,  distinctly 
and  forcibly  to  the  minds  of  his  hearers.  If  this  be 
effected,  it  is  all  that  can  reasonably  be  demanded. 
And  is  it  not  notorious  that  an  earnest  and  appro- 
priate elocution  will  give  this  effect  even  to  a  poor 
style  ?  and  that  poor  speaking  will  take  it  away  from 
the  most  exact  and  emphatic  style  ?  Is  it  not  also 
notorious  that  the  peculiar  earnestness  of  spontane- 
ous speech  is,  above  all  others,  suited  to  arrest  the 
attention  and  engage  the  feelings  of  an  audience  ? 
and  that  the  mere  reading  of  a  piece  of  fine  compo- 
sition, under  the  notion  that  careful  thought  and 
finished  diction  are  the  only  things  needful,  leaves 
the  majority  uninterested  in  the  discourse,  and  free 
to  think  of  anything  they  please  ?  '  It  is  a  poor  com- 
pliment,' says  Blair, '  that  one  is  an  accurate  reasoner, 
if  he  be  not  a  persuasive  speaker  also.'  It  is  a  small 
matter  that  the  style  is  poor,  so  long  as  it  answers 
the  great  end  of  instructing  and  affecting  men. 

"  Besides,  if  it  were  not  so,  the  objection  will  be 
found  quite  as  strong  against  the  writing  of  sermons. 
For  how  large  a  proportion  of  sermon  writers  have 
these  same  faults  of  style  1  What  a  great  want  of 
force,  neatness,  compactness,  is  there  in  the  compo- 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       203 

of  mo&t;  preachers !  What  weakness,  inele- 
giince,  anti  ineonclusiveness !  and  how  small  im- 
provement do  tiiey  make,  even  after  the  practice  of 
years  !  Mow  happens  this  ?  It  is  because  they  do 
not  make  it  an  object  of  attention  and  study ;  and 
some  might  be  unable  to  attain  it  if  they  did.  But. 
that  watchfulness  and  care  which  will  secure  a  cor- 
rect and  neat  style  in  writing  would  also  secure  it  in 
speaking.  It  does  noc  naturally  belong  to  the  one 
more  than  to  the  other,  and  may  be  as  certainly  at- 
tained in  each  by  the  p/oper  pains.  Indeed,  so  far 
as  my  observation  has  txtended,  I  am  not  certain 
that  there  is  not  as  lar^t  «  proportion  of  extempore 
speakers  whose  diction  is  as  exact  and  unexception- 
able as  of  writers ;  always  Dicing  into  view  their  edu- 
cation, which  equally  affecta  the  one  and  the  oilier. 
And  it  is  a  consideration  tn'  great  weight  that  the 
faults  in  question  are  far  tew;  offensive  in  spj;ik.ers 
than  in  writers. 

"  2.  A  want  of  order,  a  tumbling,  uncon  iectedT 
desultory  manner,  is  objected.  Hume  styles  it  'ex- 
treme carelessness  of  method,'  and  this  is  s  >  often 
observed  as  to  be  justly  an  object  of  dread.  But  this 
is  occasioned  by  that  indolence  and  want  of  disci- 
pline to  which  we  have  just  alluded.  It  is  not  a  ne- 
cessary evil.  If  a  man  have  never  studied  the  art  of 
speaking,  nor  passed  through  a  course  of  preparatory 
discipline — if  he  have  so  rash  and  unjustifiable  con- 
fidence in  himself  that  he  will  undertake  to  speak 
without  having  considered  what  he  shall  say,  what 
object  he  shall  aim  at,  or  by  what  steps  he  shall  at- 


204  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

tain  it — the  inevitable  consequence  will  be  confu- 
sion, inconclusiveness,  and  wandering.  Who  re- 
commends such  a  course  ?  But  he  who  has  first 
trained  himself  to  the  work,  and  whenever  he  would 
speak,  first  becomes  familiar  with  the  points  to  be 
dwelt  upon  and  the  course  of  reasoning  and  the 
track  of  thought  to  be  followed,  will  go  on  from  one 
step  to  another  in  an  easy  and  natural  order,  and 
give  no  occasion  to  the  complaint  of  confusion  or 
disarrangement. 

"  '  Some  preachers,'  says  Dinonart,  '  have  the  folly 
to  think  that  they  can  make  sermons  impromptu 
And  what  a  piece  of  work  they  make  !  They  bolt 
out  everything  which  comes  into  their  head.  They 
take  for  granted  what  ought  to  be  proved,  or  perhaps 
they  state  half  the  argument  and  forget  the  rest. 
Their  appearance  corresponds  to  the  state  of  their 
mind,  which  is  occupied  in  hunting  after  some  way 
of  finishing  the  sentence  they  have  begun.  They 
repeat  themselves ;  they  wander  off  in  digression. 
They  stand  stiff,  without  moving ;  or,  if  they  are  of  a 
livelier  temperament,  they  are  full  of  the  most  tur- 
bulent action :  their  eyes  and  hands  are  flying  about 
in  every  direction,  and  their  words  choke  in  their 
throats.  They  are  like  men  swimming  who  have 
got  frightened,  and  throw  about  their  hands  and 
feet  at  random  to  save  themselves  from  drowning ' 
There  is  doubtless  great  truth  in  this  humorous  de- 
scription. But  what  is  the  legitimate  inference  ? 
that  extemporaneous  speaking  is  altogether  ridicu- 
lous and  mischievous  ?  or  only  that  it  is  an  art  which 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      205 

requires  study  and  discipline,  and  wL.ch  no  man 
should  presume  to  practice  until  he  has  fitted  him- 
self for  it? 

"  3.  In  the  same  way  I  should  dispose  of  the  objec- 
tion, that  this  habit  leads  to  barrenness  in  preaching, 
and  the  everlasting  repetition  of  the  same  sentiments 
and  topics.  If  a  man  make  his  facility  of  speech  an 
excuse  for  the  neglect  of  study,  then  doubtless  this 
will  be  the  result.  He  who  cannot  resist  his  indolent 
propensities  had  best  avoid  this  occasion  of  tempta- 
tion. He  must  be  able  to  command  himself  to  think, 
and  industriously  prepare  himself  by  meditation,  if 
he  would  be  safe  in  this  hazardous  experiment.  He 
who  does  this,  and  continues  to  learn  and  reflect 
while  he  preaches,  will  be  no  more  empty  and  mono- 
tonous than  if  he  carefully  wrote  every  word."  In- 
deed, we  are  not  sure  that  this  '•  everlasting  repeti- 
tion of  the  same  sentiments  and  topics"  is  not  as 
common  to  writing  as  extemporizing. 

Whether  the  preacher  writes  or  extemporizes,  this 
is  the  result  of  the  neglect  of  theological  study  and 
general  mental  improvement.  This  sameness  and 
monotony,  so  much  and  so  reasonably  objected  to. 
is  not  exclusively  confined  to  "  the  extemporizers." 

"  4.  But  this  temptation  to  indolence  in  <he  pre- 
paration for  the  desk  is  urged  as  in  itself  a  decisive 
objection.  A  man  finds  that,  after  a  little  practice, 
it  is  an  exceedingly  easy  thing  to  fill  up  his  half  hour 
with  declamation  which  shall  pass  off  very  well,  and 
hence  he  grows  negligent  in  previous  meditation, 
and  insensibly  degenerates  into  an  empty  exhorter 


206  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

without  choice  of  language  or  variety  of  ideas.  This 
is  undoubtedly  the  great  and  alarming  danger  of  this 
practice.  This  must  be  triumphed  over,  or  it  is 
ruinous.  We  see  examples  of  it  wherever  we  look 
among  those  whose  preaching  is  exclusively  extem- 
poi-e.  In  these  cases,  the  evil  rises  to  its  magnitude 
in  consequence  of  their  total  neglect  of  the  pen. 
The  habit  of  writing  a  certain  proportion  of  the  time 
would,  however,  counteract  this  dangerous  tendency. 
"  But  it  is  still  insisted  that  man's  natural  love  of 
ease  is  not  to  be  trusted,  that  he  will  not  long  con- 
tinue the  drudgery  of  writing  in  part,  that  when  he 
has  once  gained  confidence  to  speak  without  study 
he  will  find  it  so  flattering  to  his  indolence  that  he 
will  voluntarily  give  himself  up  to  it,  and  relinquish 
the  pen  altogether ;  and  that,  consequently,  there  is 
no  security,  except  in  never  beginning.  To  this  it 
may  be  replied,  that  those  who  have  not  principle 
and  self-government  enough  to  keep  them  industri- 
ous will  not  be  kept  so  by  being  compelled  to  write 
sermons.  I  think  we  have  abundant  proof  that  a 
man  may  write  with  as  little  pains  and  thinking  as 
he  can  speak.  It  by  no  means  follows  that  because 
it  is  on  paper  it  is  therefore  the  result  of  study. 
And,  if  it  be  not,  it  will  be  greatly  inferior,  in  point 
of  effect,  to  an  unpremeditated  declamation  ;  for,  in 
the  latter  case,  there  will  probably  be  at  least  a  tem- 
porary excitement  of  feeling,  and  consequent  viva- 
city of  manner,  while  in  the  former  the  indolence 
of  the  writer  will  be  made  doubly  intolerable  by  liis 
heaviness  in  re  idiug. 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       207 

"  5.  Many  suppose  that  there  is  a  certain  natural 
talent  essential  to  success  in  extempore  speaking,  no 
less  than  in  poetry,  and  that  it  is  absurd  to  recom- 
mend this  art  to  those  who  have  not  this  peculiar 
talent,  and  vain  for  them  to  attempt  its  practice. 

'  As  regards  merely  the  use  of  unpremeditated 
language,  it  is  far  from  being  a  difficult  attainment. 
A  writer,  whose  opportunities  of  observation  give 
weight  to  his  opinion,  says,  in  speaking  of  the 
style  of  the  younger  Pitt :  '  This  profuse  and  inter- 
minable flow  of  words  is  not,  in  itself,  either  a  rare 
or  remarkable  endowment.  It  is  wholly  a  thing  of 
habit,  and  is  exercised  by  every  village  lawyer  with 
various  degrees  of  power  and  grace.'  If  there  be 
circumstances  that  render  the  habit  more  difficult  to 
be  acquired  by  the  preacher,  they  are  still  such  as 
may  be  surmounted  ;  and  the  advantages  which  he 
may  thus  insure  to  himself  certainly  offer  the  strong- 
est inducement  to  him  to  make  the  attempt."  Pre- 
sident Madison  was  an  able  debater,  combining 
fluency  of  speech  with  close  logical  argumentation ; 
and  yet  this  was  not  with  him  a  natural  endowment, 
but  attained  with  toilsome  diligence  and  care. 

"  But  in  regard  to  that  ready  flow  of  words  which 
seems  to  be  the  natural  gift  of  some  men,  it  is  of 
little  consequence  whether  it  be  really  such  or  be 
owing  to  the  education  and  habits  of  early  life,  and 
vain  self-confidence.  It  is  certain  that  diffidence 
and  the  want  of  habit  are  great  hinderances  to  fluency 
of  speech ;  and  it  is  equally  certain  that  this  natural 
fluency  is  -\  very  questionable  advantage  to  hurt  who 


208  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

would  be  an  impressive  speaker.  Those  who  at  first 
talk  easiest  do  not  always  talk  best.  Their  very  fa- 
cility is  a  snare  to  them  ;  it  serves  to  keep  them  con- 
tent ;  they  make  no  effort  to  improve,  and  are  likely 
to  fall  into  slovenly  habits  of  elocution.  So  that  thia 
unacquired  fluency  is  so  far  from  essential,  that  it  is 
not  even  a  benefit,  and  it  may  be  an  injury.  It 
keeps  from  final  eminence  by  the  very  greatness  of 
its  early  promise.  On  the  other  hand,  he  who  pos- 
sessed originally  no  remarkable  command  of  language, 
and  whom  an  unfortunate  bashfulness  prevents  from 
using  well  what  he  has,  is  obliged  to  subject  himseli 
to  severe  discipline ;  to  submit  to  rules  and  tasks ;  to 
go  through  a  tedious  process  of  training ;  to  acquire, 
by  much  labor,  the  needful  sway  over  his  thoughts 
and  words,  so  that  they  shall  come  at  his  bidding, 
and  not  be  driven  away  by  his  own  diffidence,  or  by 
the  presence  of  other  men.  To  do  all  this  is  a  long 
and  disheartening  labor.  He  is  exposed  to  frequent 
mortifications,  and  must  endure  many  grievous  fail- 
ures before  he  attains  that  confidence  which  is  indis- 
pensable to  success.  But  then  in  this  discipline  his 
powers  mental  and  moral,  are  strained  up  to  the 
highest  intenseness  of  action  ;  after  persevering  prac- 
tice they  become  habitually  subject  to  his  control, 
and  work  with  a  precision,  exactness,  and  energy, 
which  can  never  be  the  possession  of  him  who  has 
depended  upon  his  native,  undisciplined  gift.  It  is 
probably  this  to  which  Newton  referred  when  he 
said,  that  he  never  spoke  well  until  he  felt  that  he 
could  not  speak  at  all. 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      209 

"  Let  no  one,  therefore,  feel  it  an  oostacle  in  big 
way  that  he  has  no  readiness  of  words.  If  he  have 
good  sense,  and  no  deficiency  of  talent,  and  is  willing 
to  labor  for  this  as  all  great  attainments  must  be  la~ 
bored  for,  he  needs  not  fear  but  that  in  time  he  will 
attain  it.  Any  man  with  powers  which  fit  him  for 
tlie  ministry  at  all — unless  there  be  a  few  extraordi- 
nary exceptions — is  capable  of  learning  to  express 
himself  clearly,  correctly,  and  with  method;  and 
this  is  expressly  what  is  wanted,  and  no  more  than 
this.  I  do  not  say  eloquently ;  for,  as  it  is  not 
thought  indispensable  that  every  writer  of  sermons 
should  be  eloquent,  it  cannot  be  thought  essential 
that  every  speaker  should  be  so.  But  the  same 
powers  which  have  enabled  him  to  write,  will,  with 
sufficient  discipline,  enable  him  to  speak,  with  every 
probability  that  when  he  comes  to  speak  with  the 
same  ease  and  collectedness,  he  will  do  it  with  a 
nearer  approach  to  eloquence.  Without  such  dis- 
cipline he  has  no  right  to  hope  for  success ;  let  him 
not  say  that  success  is  impossible  until  he  has  sub- 
mitted to  it.  Let  this  art  be  made  an  object  of  atten- 
tion, and  if  any  of  competent  talents  and  tolerable 
science  be  found,  at  last,  incapable  of  expressing 
themselves  in  continued  and  connected  discourse, 
so  as  to  answer  the  ends  of  the  Christian  ministry, 
then,  and  not  till  then,  let  it  be  said  that  a  peculiar 
talent  or  natural  aptitude  is  requisite,  the  want  of 
which  must  render  effort  vain — then,  and  not 
till  then,  let  us  acquiesce  in  this  indolent  and 
timorous  notion,  which  contradicts  the  whole  testi- 
14 


210  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

mony  of  antiquity,  and  all  the  experience  of  the 
world. 

"  Doubtless,  after  the  most  that  can  be  done,  there 
will  be  found  the  greatest  variety  of  attainment ; 
'  men  will  differ,'  as  Burnet  remarks, '  quite  as  much 
in  their  written  compositions,'  and  some  will  do  but 
poorly  what  others  will  do  excellently.  But  this  is 
likewise  true  of  every  other  art  in  which  men  en- 
gage, and  not  least  so  of  writing  sermons,  concern- 
ing which  no  one  will  say,  that  as  poor  are  not  writ- 
ten as  it  would  be  possible  for  any  one  to  speak.  In 
truth,  men  of  small  talent  and  great  sluggishness, 
of  a  feeble  sense  of  duty  and  no  zeal,  will  of  course 
make  poor  sermons,  by  whatever  process  they  may 
do  it,  let  them  write  or  let  them  speak.  It  is  doubt- 
ful concerning  some  whether  they  would  even  steal 
good  ones." 

We  cannot  dismiss  this  subject  without  first  giving 
a  few  hints  upon  the  mode  and  amount  of  prepara- 
tion essential  to  success  in  extemporaneous  discourse. 

1.  In  the  first  place,  the  subject  must  be  thorough- 
ly studied.     The  practiced  extemporizer  may  some- 
times be  unusually  happy  and  successful  without 
premeditation  ;  but  this  will  not  answer  for  a  gene- 
i  al  rule.     In  order  to  be  safe,  to  speak  to  good  pur- 
pose, the  whole  subject,  with  the  order  and  connec- 
tion of  its  parts,  must  be  thoroughly  investigated  and 
understood.    "  There  must  be  no  uncertainty,  when 
he  rises  to  speak,  as  to  what  he  is  going  to  say,  no 
mist  of  darkness  over  the  land  he  is  about  to  travel. 

2.  Having  weighed  the  whole  subject,  its  parts 


COMMUNICATION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.      211 

must  be  distributed,  according  to  their  relations,  into 
the  divisions  and  sub-divisions  of  the  discourse.  This 
careful  distribution  of  parts  is  essential  to  perspicuity 
:n  the  discourse.  "  The  text  is  the  staple,  the  divi- 
sions aie  the  swivel,  and  the  subordinate  thoughts 
are  the  links  of  the  chain — the  series  should  be  un- 
broken if  the  artisan  would  be  sure.  We  do  not 
mean  that  the  whole  discourse  should  be  prepared  ; 
but  that  the  different  propositions  should  be  con- 
nected by  leading  and  well-selected  thoughts.  An 
extemporaneous  speaker  should  not  go  into  the  pul- 
pit (except  in  emergencies)  without  such  a  clew." 
Professor  Ware  recommends  "  a  careful  and  minute 
division  of  the 'subject.  The  division  should  not  only 
be  logical  and  clear,  but  into  parts  as  numerous  as 
possible.  The  great  advantage  here  is,  that,  the 
partitions  being  many,  the  speaker  is  compelled  to 
return  frequently  to  his  minutes.  He  is  thus  kept 
in  the  track,  and  prevented  from  wandering  far  in 
needless  digressions — that  besetting  infirmity  of  un- 
restrained extemporizers." 

3.  Having  prescribed  a  thorough  investigation  of 
the  subject  and  a  careful  distribution  of  parts,  1 
would  next  say,  Make  a  skeleton  of  the  whole.  A 
person  accustomed  to  extempore  preaching  may, 
perhaps,  be  able  to  retain  for  the  time  being  all  the 
outlines  of  his  discourse,  but  in  general,  unleso  they 
have  been  sketched  down  and  made  a  direct  subject 
of  memory,  he  will  be  liable  to  forget  some  of  them, 
and  thus  wander ;  and  certain  it  is,  preparations  not 
sketched  down  are  rarely  retained  for  future  use. 


212  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

A  sKcleton  should  contain  the  distinct  statement 
of  the  propositions  to  be  discussed,  or  the  divisions 
and  subdivisions  of  the  discourse.  Also  a  few 
"  trailing  thoughts "  linking  these  parts  together. 
It  will  never  be  safe  to  depend  altogether  upon  the 
inspiration  of  the  moment  for  "  the  filling  up  "  of  a 
discourse.  The  intermediate  train  of  thought  should 
also  be  studied,  and  a  consecutive  train  of  thought 
between  the  propositions  sketched  down  ;  not  written 
out,  but  indicated,  just  as  the  surveyor  indicates  the 
course  he  has  taken,  not  by  a  highway,  but  by  monu- 
ments left  iu  his  path.  In  addition  to  this,  "  it  is  de- 
sirable that  some  specially  good  thought1?,  some  apt 
or  striking  illustrations,  adapted  to  throw  a  strong 
light  upon  the  subject,  and  to  arrest  the  attention  of 
the  audience,  should  be  noted — some  illustrative  quo- 
tations of  Scripture  or  apposite  passages  of  poetry — 
some  '  flowerets  from  the  dusty  hedge-row '  -  which 
will  strike  the  mind  as  appropriate  and  even  beau- 
tiful, provided  it  be  not  irrelevant  beauty."  These 
apposite  Scripture  passages  or  scraps  of  poetry  must, 
of  course,  be  committed  to  memory,  and  also  such 
illustrations  as  the  speaker  may  borrow.  Many  dis- 
tinguished extemporaneous  speakers  are  said  to  write 
out  with  care,  and  repeat  from  memory,  the  more 
brilliant  strokes  in  their  discourse.  "  This  may  un- 
doubtedly be  done  to  advantage  by  one  who  has  that 
command  of  himself  that  will  enable  him  to  pass 
from  memory  to  invention  without  tripping." 

4.  After  the  skeleton  has  been  thus  prepared,  it 
must  be  thoroughly  memorized.  We  should  insist 


COMMUNICATION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.      215 

npon  this,  even  when  it  is  taken  into  the  desk  with 
ihe  speaker.  A  constant  reference  to  a  sketch  or 
hrief  cannot  but  interrupt  the  flow  of  thought  and 
feeling,  as  well  as  detract  from  the  power  of  expres- 
sion. The  great  advantage  resulting  will  abundant- 
ly repay  the  labor  of  committing ;  and,  indeed,  when 
a  discourse  has  been  thoroughly  studied,  and  the 
skeleton  carefully  prepared,  it  will  require  but  a 
trifling  effort  to  commit  the  latter  to  memory. 

5.  With  regard  to  the  language  to  be  employed, 
aside  from  the  exceptions  already  indicated,  "the 
best  rule  is  that  no  preparation  be  made.  There  is 
no  convenient  and  profitable  medium  between  speak- 
ing from  memory  and  from  immediate  suggestion. 
To  mix  the  two  is  no  aid,  but  a  great  hinderance, 
because  it  perplexes  the  mind  between  the  very  dif- 
ferent operations  of  memory  and  invention." 

The  extempore  preacher,  then,  should  make  no 
preparation  of  language.  "  Language  is  the  last 
thing  he  should  be  anxious  about.  If  he  have  ideas, 
and  be  awake,  it  will  come  of  itself,  unbidden  and 
unsought  The  best  language  flashes  upon  the 
speaker  as  unexpectedly  as  on  the  hearer.  It  is  the 
spontaneous  gift  of  the  mind,  not  the  extorted  boon 
of  a  special  search.  No  man  who  has  thoughts,  and 
is  interested  in  them,  is  at  a  loss  for  words — not  the 
most  uneducated  man ;  and  the  words  he  uses  will 
be  according  to  his  education  and  habits,  not  accord- 
ing to  the  labor  of  the  moment.  If  he  feel  truly, 
and  wish  to  communicate  his  feelings  to  those  around 
him,  the  last  thing  that  will  fail  him  will  be  language  -, 


214  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

the  less  he  thinks  of  it  and  cares  for  it,  the  more 
copiously  and  richly  will  it  flow  from  him ;  and  when 
he  has  forgotten  everything  but  his  desire  to  give 
vent  to  his  emotions  and  do  good,  then  will  the  un- 
conscious torrent  pour,  as  it  does  at  no  other  season. 
The  entire  surrender  to  the  spirit  which  stirs  within 
is  indeed  the  real  secret  of  all  eloquence.  '  True 
eloquence,'  says  Milton,  '  I  find  to  be  none  but  the 
serious  and  hearty  love  of  truth;  and  that  whose 
mind  soever  is  fully  possessed  with  a  fervent  desire 
to  know  good  things,  and  with  the  dearest  charity  to 
infuse  them  into  the  rninds  of  others — when  such  a 
man  would  speak,  his  words,  like  so  many  nimble 
and  airy  servitors,  trip  about  at  command,  and  in 
well-ordered  files,  as  he  would  wish,  fall  aptly  into 
their  own  places.' " 

/  6.  "  In  order  to  the  best  success,  extemporaneous 
/  efforts  should  be  made  in  an  excited  state  of  mind, 
/  when  the  thoughts  are  burning  and  glowing,  and 

V. long  to  find  vent.     There  are  some  topics  which  do 

not  admit  of  this  excitement ;  when  such  are  taken 
up,  they  may  be  treated  by  the  pen.  When  the 
preacher  would  speak  extemporaneously,  he  should 
choose  topics  on  which  his  own  mind  is  kindled  \vith 
a  feeling  which  he  is  earnest  to  communicate,  and 
the  higher  the  degree  to  which  he  has  elevated  his 
feelings,  (provided  he  retain  his  self-command,)  the 
more  readily,  happily,  and  powerfully,  will  he  pour 
forth  whatever  the  occasion  may  demand.  There  is 
no  style  suited  to  the  pulpit  which  he  will  not  more 
effectually  command  in  this  state  of  mind.  He  will 


COMMUNICATION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.       215 

reason  more  directly,  pointedly,  and  convincingly; 
he  will  describe  more  vividly  from  the  living  con- 
ceptions of  the  moment ;  he  will  be  more  earnest  in 
persuasion,  more  animated  in  declamation,  more 
urgent  in  appeals,  more  terrible  in  denunciation 
Everything  will  vanish  before  him  but  the  subject 
of  his  attention,  and  upon  this  his  powers  will  be 
concentrated  in  keen  and  vigorous  action. 

"  If  a  man  would  do  his  best,  it  must  be  upon  topics 
which  are  at  the  moment  interesting  to  him.  We 
see  it  in  conversation,  when  every  one  is  elegant 
upon  his  favorite  subjects.  We  see  it  in  deliberative 
assemblies,  where  it  is  those  grand  questions  which 
excite  an  intense  interest,  and  absorb  and  agitate  the 
mind,  that  call  forth  those  bursts  of  eloquence  by 
which  men  are  remembered  as  powerful  orators,  and 
that  give  a  voice  to  men  who  can  speak  on  no  other 
occasions.  Cicero  tells  us  of  himself,  that  the  in- 
stances in  which  he  was  most  successful,  were  those 
in  which  he  most  entirely  abandoned  himself  to  the 
impulses  of  feeling.  Every  speaker's  experience 
will  bear  testimony  to  the  same  thing,  and  thus  the  > 
saying  of  Goldsmith  proves  true,  that  '  to  feel  one's 
subject  thoroughly,  and  to  speak  without  fear,  are j 
the  only  rules  of  eloquence.'  Let  him  who  woula 
preach  successfully  remember  this.  In  the  choice 
of  subjects  for  extemporaneous  efforts,  let  him  have 
regard  to  it,  and  never  encumber  himself  nor  dis- 
Iress  his  hearers  with  the  attempt  to  interest  them 
in  a  subject  which  at  the  moment  excites  only  a 
feeble  inU  rest  in  his  own  mind.  Let  him  also  use 


MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

every  means — by  careful  meditation  ;  by  calling  up 
the  strong  motives  of  his  office ;  by  realizing  the 
nature  and  responsibility  of  his  undertaking,  and  by 
earnestly  invoking  the  blessing  of  God — to  attain  the 
frame  of  devout  engagedness  which  Avill  dispose  him 
to  speak  zealously  and  fearlessly. 

"  After  all,  therefore,  which  can  be  said,  the  great 
essential  requisite  to  effective  preaching  in  this 
method,  (or  indeed  in  any  method,)  is  a  devoted 
heart.  A  strong  religious  sentiment,  leading  to  fer- 
vent zeal  for  the  good  of  other  men,  is  better  than 
all  rules  of  art ;  it  will  give  him  courage  Avhich  no 
science  or  practice  can  impart,  and  open  his  lips 
boldly  when  the  fear  of  man  would  keep  them  closed. 
Art  may  fail  him,  and  all  his  treasures  of  knowledge 
desert  him,  but  if  his  heart  be  warm  with  love,  he 
will '  speak  right  on,'  aiming  at  the  heart  and  reaching 
the  heart,  and  satisfied  to  accomplish  the  great  pur- 
pose, whether  he  be  thought  to  do  it  tastefully  or  not. 

"  This  is  the  true  spirit  of  his  office,  to  be  cherished 
and  cultivated  above  all  things  else,  and  capable  of 
rendering  all  his  labors  comparatively  easy.  It  re- 
minds him  that  his  purpose  is  not  to  make  profound 
discussion  of  theological  doctrines,  or  disquisitions 
on  moral  and  metaphysical  science,  but  to  present 
such  views  of  the  great  and  acknowledged  truths  of 
revelation,  with  such  applications  of  them  to  the 
understanding  and  conscience,  as  may  affect  and 
reform  his  hearers.  Now,  it  is  not  study  on  y  in 
divinity  or  in  rhetoric  which  will  enable  him  to  do 
this.  He  may  reason  ingeniously  but  not  convinc- 


COMMUNICATION  Or   KNOWLEDGE.       217 

ingly  he  may  declaim  eloquently,  but  not  persua- 
siveiy  There  is  an  immense  though  indescribable' 
difference  between  the  same  arguments  and  truths, 
as  presented  by  him  who  earnestly  feels  and  desires 
to  persuade,  and  by  him  who  designs  only  a  display 
of  intellectual  strength  or  an  exercise  of  rhetorical 
skill.  In  the  latter  case  the  declamation  may  be' 
splendid,  but  it  will  be  cold  and  without  expression, 
lulling  the  ear  and  diverting  the  fancy,  but  leaving 
the  feelings  untouched.  In  the  other  there  is  an 
air  of  reality  which  words  cannot  describe,  but  which 
the  heart  feels,  that  finds  its  way  to  the  recesses  of 
the  soul,  and  overcomes  it  by  a  powerful  sympathy. 
This  is  a  difference  which  all  perceive  and  all  can 
account  for.  The  truths  of  religion  are  not  matters 
of  philosophical  speculation,  but  of  experience.  The 
heart  and  all  the  spiritual  man,  and  all  the  interests 
and  feeling  of  the  immortal  being,  have  an  intimate 
concern  in  them.  It  is  perceived  at  once  whether 
they  are  stated  by  one  who  has  felt  them  himself,  ia 
personally  acquainted  with  their  power,  is  subject  to 
their  influence,  and  speaks  fronivactual  experience; 
or  whether  they  come  from  one  who  knows  them 
only  in  speculation,  has  gathered  them  from  books, 
and  thought  them  out  by  his  own  reason,  but  with- 
out any  sense  of  their  spiritual  operation. 

'•'  But  who  does  not  know  how  much  easier  it  is  to 
declare  what  has  come  to  our  knowledge  from  our 
own  experience,  than  what  we  have  gathered  coldly 
at  second-hand  from  that  of  others ;  how  much 
easier  it  is  tQ  describe  feelings  we  ourselves  have 


218  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

had,  and  pleasures  we  have  ourselves  enjoyed,  than 
to  fashion  a  description  of  what  others  have  told  us 
how  much  more  freely  and  convincingly  we  car 
speak  of  happiness  we  have  known,  than  of  that  to 
which  we  are  strangers?  We  see,  then,  how  much 
is  lost  to  the  speaker  by  coldness  or  ignorance  in  the 
exercise  of  personal  religion.  How  can  he  effectu- 
ally represent  the  joys  of  a  religious  mind  who  has 
never  known  what  it  is  to  feel  them  ?  How  can  he 
effectually  aid  the  contrite,  the  desponding,  the  dis- 
trustful, the  tempted,  who  has  never  himself  passed 
through  the  same  fears  and  sorrows  ?  or  how  can  he 
paint,  in  warm  colors  of  truth,  religious  exercises 
and  spiritual  desires,  who  is  personally  a  stranger  to 
them  ?  Alas !  he  cannot  at  all  come  in  contact 
with  those  souls  which  stand  most  in  need  of  his  sym- 
pathy and  aid.  But  if  he  have  cherished  in  himself, 
fondly  and  habitually,  the  affections  he  would  excite 
in  others — if  he  have  combated  temptation,  and 
practiced  self-denial,  and  been  instant  in  prayer, 
and  tasted  the  joy  and  peace  of  a  tried  faith  and 
hope — then  he  may  communicate  directly  with  the 
hearts  of  his  fellow-men,  and  win  them  over  to  that 
which  he  so  feelingly  describes.  If  his  spirit  be  al- 
ways warm  and  stirring  with  those  kind  and  pure 
emotions,  and  anxious  to  impart  the  means  of  his 
own  felicity  to  others,  how  easily  and  freely  will  he 
pour  himself  forth !  and  how  little  will  he  think  of 
the  embarrassments  of  mortal  man,  while  he  is  con- 
scious only  of  laboring  for  the  glory  of  the  evei- 
present  God '" 


COMMUNICATION   OF   KNOWLEDGE.      219 

SECTIOX  XVIII. — Use  only  plain  language. 

UTe  have  already  showed  that  perspicuousness  in 
delivery  is  essential,  as  well  as  clearness  of  thought, 
to  an  effective  speaker.  One  mode  of  attaining  this 
perspieuousness  of  delivery — namely,  the  use  of  plain 
language — we  wish  to  consider  more  definitely. 

Fonelon,  in  his  Dialogues  upon  Eloquence,  ob- 
serves, that  "  the  whole  art  of  good  oratory  consists 
in  observing  what  nature  does  when  unconstrained. 
You  ought  not  to  imitate  those  haranguers  who 
choose  always  to  declaim,  but  never  to  talk  with 
their  hearers.  On  the  contrary,  you  should  address 
an  audience  in  such  a  modest,  respectful,  engaging 
manner,  that  each  shall  imagine  that  you  are  speak- 
ing peculiarly  to  him."  This  cannot  be  done  with- 
out the  use  of  plain  and  familiar  language.  "  Sim- 
plicity," says  Ostervald,  "  refuses  admission  into  our 
sermons  to  everything  which  is  too  abstruse,  too 
learned,  and  too  sublime.  It  rejects  all  subtil  and 
metaphysical  argumentation.  It  should  equally  ap- 
pear in  the  style,  the  delivery,  and  the  gesture.  Il 
should  be  the  predominant  character  of  every  dis- 
course. "  Truth  must  open  to  the  hearer,"  says  Mr. 
Sutclifie,  "  as  the  landscape  to  the  traveler.  Every 
sentence  must  be  luminous,  and  every  member  open 
with  a  new  idea,  directed  to  the  object  as  the  strokes 
of  a  workman  felling  a  tree."  Plainness  is  charac- 
leristic  of  the  language  of  the  Bible.  Mr.  Black- 
wall,  in  his  Sacred  Classics,  pays  the  following  com- 
pliment to  the  Bible : — "  The  Old  Testament  is  the 


,220  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

richest  treasury  of  all  the  sublimity  of  thought,  moving 
tenderness  of  passion,  and  vigorous  strength  of  ex- 
pressiDn,  which  is  to  be  found  in  all  the  language  by 
which  mortals  convey  their  thoughts."  "  The  stock 
of  words  provided  in  the  Scriptures,"  says  Mr. 
Sturtevant,  "  will  enable  the  preacher  to  speak 
classically,  elegantly,  and  eloquently ;  and  though 
deprived  of  foreign  stock,  he  will  still  retain  his  ut- 
most skill  of  giving  advantage  to  conceptions  by 
perspicuity  of  arrangement,  happy  construction  of 
sentences,  a  j  udicious  choice  of  words,  and  agreeable 
and  harmonious  periods.  He  will  still  be  at  liberty 
to  give  all  the  grace  of  delivery.  Thus,  while  he 
delights  his  audience,  he  will  use  only  such  words  as 
common  people  understand. 

"  As  plain  language  admits  of  beauty,  so  it  is  also 
capable  of  strength ;  for  the  old  English  is  capable 
of  expressing  the  most  violent  feelings  of  the  mind, 
or  the  most  pathetic.  Nay,  it  is  capable  of  sublimity 
also;  for  sublimity  does  not  consist  in  pompous 
words,  but  in  the  thought  itself;  pompous  words  do 
but  delight  the  ear,  but  they  do  not  produce  such  a 
true  elevation  of  soul  as  short  words,  mostly  mono- 
syllables, (and  of  such  the  old  language  mainly  con- 
sists ;)  while  foreign  words,  compounded  and  doubly 
compounded,  impede  the  current  of  thought,  and  rob 
the  subject  of  its  proper  energy.  The  least  atten- 
tion to  Scripture  language,  and  that  of  nature,  will 
supply  all  the  evidence  that  is  necessary  to  the  proof 
of  this  point.  Even  our  poets  and  orators  of  sensi- 
bility and  feeling  have  always  been  aware  of  this 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      221 

Mid,  though  the  common  strain  of  their  language 
maj  have  been  refined,  yet,  if  they  had  an  affair  of 
the  heart  to  treat  of  respecting  these  points,  they 
turned  for  the  occasion  to  the  wording  of  pure  na- 
ture; and  here  they  pay  deference  to  what  I  re- 
commend." 

As  illustrative  of  the  above  suggestions,  Mr.  Stur- 
tevant  quotes  the  following  incident,  from  Gregory's 
Life  of  Robert  Hall : — "  In  one  of  our  interviews 
with  Mr.  Hall,  I  used  the  -word  felicity  three  or  four 
times.  He  asked,  '  Why  do  you  say  felicity  f  happi- 
ness is  a  better  word,  more  musical,  and  common 
English,  coming  from  the  Saxon.'  '  Not  more  musi- 
cal, I  think,  sir.'  '  Yes,  more  musical,  and  so  are  all 
words  derived  from  the  Saxon  generally.  Listen, 
sir :  My  heart  is  smitten,  and  withered  like  grass. 
There  is  plaintive  music  for  you.  Listen  again,  sir : 
Under  the  shadow  of  thy  wings  will  I  rejoice.  There 
is  cheerful  music.'  '  Yes,  but  rejoice  is  French.' 
'  True  ;  but  all  the  rest  is  Saxon,  and  rejoice  is  almost 
out  of  tune  with  the  rest.  Listen,  again,  sir:  Thou 
hast  delivered  my  eyes  from  tears,  my  soul  from  death, 
and  my  feet  from  falling:  all  Saxon,  except  de- 
livered. I  could  think  of  the  word  tear,  sir,  till  I 
wept.  Then,  for  another  noble  specimen  of  the 
good  old  Saxon  English  !  Surely  goodness  and  mercy 
shall  follow  me  all  the  days  of  my  life,  and  I  will 
dioell  in  /he  house  of  the  Lord  for  ever.'  "  It  must  be 
admitted  that  Robert  Hall,  much  as  he  admired  plain 
language,  was  not  always  particular  as  to  its  use. 

The  use  of  plain  language  is  also  sanctioned  by 


222  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

Ihe  authority  and  practice  of  many  distinguished  fci 
learning  and  eloquence.  Dr.  Mason  sa/s :  "  It  is  z. 
nauseous  affectation  to  be  fond  of  hard  words,  or  to 
introduce  terms  of  art  and  learning  into  a  discourse 
addressed  to  a  mixed  assembly  of  plain,  illiterate, 
Christian  men.  They  who  don't  understand  you, 
will  dislike  you ;  and  they  who  do,  will  see  the 
affectation,  and  despise  you."  Archbishop  Usher, 
no  mean  authority,  gives  the  following  precept  to 
his  preachers :  "  Avoid  all  exotic  phrases,  scholastic 
terms,  and  forced  rhetorical  figures ;  since  it  is  not 
difficult  to  make  easy  things  appear  hard;  but  to 
render  hard  things  easy  is  the  hardest  part  of  a  good 
orator  as  well  as  preacher."  Doddridge,  in  recom- 
mending plainness  and  simplicity  of  speech,  re- 
marks :  "  The  most  celebrated  speakers,  in  judicial 
courts  and  in  senates,  have,  in  all  nations  and  ages, 
pursued  the  method  I  now  recommend ;  and  the 
most  successful  preachers  have  successfully  attempt- 
ed it."  This  constitutes  that  brevity  of  speech  which 
Cicero  tells  us  is  characteristic  of  the  most  able 
teachers.*  The  idea  of  imparting  strength  to  dis- 
course by  the  use  of  words  extracted  from  foreign 
or  ancient  languages,  and  compounded  and  re-com- 
pounded till  they  have  acquired  a  length  almost  in- 
terminable, is  perfectly  absurd,  and  contrary  to  all 
the  principles  of  true  oratory.  Acquire  strength 
and  directness  of  thought,  and  the  good  old  Saxon 
English  will  be  amply  sufficient  to  give  it  full  ex* 
pression. 

*  Qui  breviter  dicunt,  docere  possunt. 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       223 

A  great  critic  observed  of  Dean  Swift,  that  "  he 
never  used  a  derived  or  foreign  word  when  an  equiva- 
lent English  one  could  be  found."  Does  any  one  doubt 
the  compass  and  power  of  plain  English  to  give  ex- 
pression ?  let  him  look  into  the  Pilgrim's  Progress. ' 
In  that  work  Bunyan  has  "  brought  vast  conceptions, 
noble  thoughts,  and  ingenious  similitudes,  into  the 
plainest  words  that  the  dictionary  can  give  us." 
"  Bishop  Beveridge's  Sermons  are  admirably  plain." 
Dr.  South,  "  a  giant  in  language,"  relies  almost  ex- 
clusively upon  the  clear,  bold  Saxon.  Dr.  Adam 
Clarke  was  an  advocate  of  plain  language,  which  he 
also  employed.  Dr.  Watts  clothes  the  purest  and 
sublimest  thoughts,  both  in  prose  and  poetry,  in  the 
chastest  and  simplest  language.  Mr.  John  Wesley, 
in  the  preface  to  his  Sermons,  remarks :  "  I  labor  to 
avoid  all  words  which  are  not  easy  to  be  understood, 
all  which  are  not  used  in  common  life ;  and,  in  par- 
ticular, those  technical  terms  that  so  often  occur  in 
bodies  of  divinity ;  those  modes  of  speaking  which 
men  of  reading  are  well  acquainted  with,  but  which 
to  common  people  are  an  unknown  tongue.  Yet,  I 
am  not  assured  that  I  do  not  slide  into  them  una- 
wares ;  it  is  so  extremely  natural  to  imagine  that  a 
word  Avhich  is  familiar  to  ourselves  is  so  to  all  the 
world." 

One  part  of  eloquence,  and  by  no  means  the  least 
important  end  of  it,  is  to  impart  knowledge ;  and  to 
this  end  the  use  of  plain  language  is  indispensable  to 
nine-tenths  of  our  mixed  assemblies.  They  cannot 
comprehend  the  meaning,  much  less  appreciate  thfl 


024  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

beauty,  (if  indeed  there  bt,  any  beauty  in  them,)  of 
uncommon  words,  coined  from  foreign  tongues,  whe- 
ther Greek,  Latin,  or  French.  And  certainly,  if 
example  teach  us  anything,  the  use  of  such  words  ia 
'not  essential  to  real  eloquence.  The  eloquent  states- 
men and  divines  of  our  own  country  seek  no  assist- 
ance from  them ;  and  if  it  be  said  that  some  of  our 
divines,  reputed  to  be  eloquent  speakers,  are  ex- 
ceedingly prone  to  their  use,  we  would  reply,  that 
if  eloquent  at  all,  they  are  eloquent  in  spite  of  such 
use,  and  not  in  consequence  of  it.  But  we  seriously 
doubt  whether  the  speaking  of  such  men  ever  reaches 
to  the  character  of  time  eloquence.  We  would  coun- 
sel, with  all  the  ardor  of  earnest  conviction,  the  young 
preacher  to  choose  the  oratory  of  the  apostle  Paul 
for  his  model,  rather  than  the  turgid  verbosity  of 
those  whose  forte  lies  rather  in  coining  words  than 
thought.  Who  can  doubt  whether  the  apostle  were 
an  eloquent  man,  when  we  have  on  record  so  many 
specimens  of  his  eloquence,  and  so  many  instances 
of  its  power  ?  And  yet  hear  him  declare  :  "  I  had 
rather  speak  five  words  with  my  understanding,  tha'. 
by  my  voice  I  might  teach  others  also,  than  ten 
thousand  words  in  an  unknown  tongue :"  "  And  my 
speech  and  my  preaching  was  not  with  enticing 
words  of  man's  wisdom;  but  in  demonstration  of  the 
Spirit  and  of  power."  It  is  this  "demonstration 
of  the  Spirit  and  of  power,"  clothed  in  language 
plain  and  intelligible,  breathing  thoughts  and 
words  of  fire,  that  conveys  the  gospel  to  the 
ignorant  and  the  poor.  Nay,  it  is  not  mere  as- 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      225 

sumption  that  this  constitutes  the  gist  of  all  true 
eloquence. 

SECTION  XIX. — Consider  the  importance  of  a  goni  delivery. 

The  finest  composition,  badly  delivered,  will  lose  its 
effect ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  an  indifferent  dis^ 
rourse,  well  delivered,  will  not  fail  to  interest.  An 
ancient  rhetorician  affirms  that  an  indifferent  dis- 
course, assisted  by  a  good  delivery,  will  have  greater 
efficacy  than  the  finest  harangue  which  wants  that 
advantage.  So  great  was  the  power  of  Cicero's  de- 
livery, that  when  declaiming  in  Greek  before  Apol- 
lonius,  the  rhetorician  exclaimed,  "  As  for  you, 
Cicero,  I  praise  and  admire  you,  but  I  am  concerned 
for  the  fate  of  Greece.  She  had  nothing  left  her 
but  the  glory  of  eloquence  and  erudition,  and  you 
are  carrying  that  too  to  Rome."  Philip  of  Macedon 
pays  the  following  compliment  to  the  vehement  de-  •  • 
clamation  of  Demosthenes :  "  For  I  myself,  had  I 
been  present,  and  heard  that  vehement  orator  de- 
claim, should  have  been  the  first  to  conclude  that  it 
was  indispensably  necessary  to  declare  war  against 
me." 

Sheridan  never  attained  any  high  eminence  as  a 
statesman,  and  yet  the  power  of  his  eloquence  was 
irresistible.  The  impressive  delivery  of  a  White- 
field  rendered  matter  that  was  absolutely  puerile 
when  afterward  published,  overwhelming  to  his  audi- 
tories. Summerfield  too — who  has  not  heard  of  the 
transcendent  power  of  his  oratory !  and  yet  what 
judicious  friend  has  not  regretted  that  his  fair  fame 
15 


226  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

should  be  darkened  by  the  publication  of  discourses 
which  were  destined  only  to  disappoint  the  expecta- 
tions which  the  living  fire  and  genius  of  his  oratory 
had  excited  ? 

Rhetoricians  have  always  given  a  high  place  to 
delivery  among  the  qualifications  of  the  orator. 
'  After  a  sermon  has  been  composed,"  says  the.  abbe 
Maury,  "  and  even  committed  to  memory,  much  still 
remains  for  the  orator  to  execute ;  for  the  success 
of  the  composition  depends  upon  the  manner  of  de- 
livery. This  concluding  particular  (that  is,  in  the 
preparation  of  a  discourse)  ought  to  be  the  subject 
of  a  separate  work.  The  ancients  regarded  delivery 
as  a  very  considerable  branch  of  the  art  of  oratory  ? 
and  have  carried  this  talent  to  a  degree  of  perfection 
of  which  we  have  no  idea. 

"  For  such  as  are  merely  desirous  to  avoid  the 
common  faults  in  delivery,  the  following  are  the 
principal  precautions  which  ought  to  be  adopted. 

"  They  should  indulge  a  favorable  hope  of  the 
success  of  their  performance,  at  the  very  moment  of 
delivery,  that  they  may  speak  without  reluctance  or 
uneasiness.  They  should  be  deeply  penetrated  with 
their  subject,  and  recall  what  passed  in  their  mind 
while  engaged  in  composition.  They  should  diffuse, 
throughout  every  part  of  the  discourse,  the  ardor 
with  which  they  are  animated.  They  should  speak 
authoritatively,  in  order  to  arrest  the  attention  of 
the  hearers.  They  should  avoid  the  declamation  of 
an  actor,  and  be  cautious  of  introducing  theatrical 
pantomime  in  the  pulpit,  which  will  never  succeed. 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       227 

They  should  begin  with  pitching  their  voice  at  * 
proper  medium,  so  that  the  tone  may  be  capable  of 
rising  without  producing  discord,  and  of  being  low- 
ered without  becoming  inaudible.  They  may  be 
assured  that  the  effect  is  lo?t  when  they  attempt  to 
strain  their  voice  to  the  highest  pitch ;  that  bawling 
repels  attention  instead  of  assisting  it,  and  that  the 
lower  they  sink  their  voice  a  in  pathetic  passages  the 
better  they  are  heard.  They  should  not  allow  them- 
selves to  make  use  of  a  multiplicity  of  gestures ;  and 
they  should  especially  guard  against  laying  an  undue 
stress  on  a  particular  word  in  the  general  movement 
of  a  period.  They  should  avoid  all  corporeal  agita- 
tion, and  never  strike  the  pulpit  cither  with  the  feet 
or  hands.  They  should  vary  the  inflections  of  their 
voice  with  each  rhetorical  figure,  and  their  intona- 
tions with  every  paragraph.  Let  them  imitate  the 
simple  and  impressive  accents  of  nature  in  delivery 
as  well  as  in  composition.  In  a  word,  with  rapidity 
of  utterance  they  should  blend  pauses,  which  are 
always  striking  w.ien  but  seldom  used  and  properly 
timed." 

The  above  suggestions  will  not  supersede  the  con- 
sideration of  elocution,  and  manner  or  gesture,  in 
their  relation  to  delivery. 

SECTION  XX. — Consider  the  importance  of  a  good  elocution 
as  contributing  to  a  good  delivery. 

1.  One  of  the  first  objects  of  attention,  in  order 
to  secure  a  good  elocution,  is  the  proper  control  and 
management  of  the  voice.  This  can  rarely  be  ao- 


228  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

quired  without  the  aid  of  the  living  teacher,  and 
thorough  attention  and  discipline.  In  this  perfect 
mastery  of  the  voice  lies  the  secret  of  many  an  ora- 
tor's strength.  It  is  said  that  Whitefield  could  give 
utterance  to  the  single  word  Mesopotamia  with  such 
a  power  of  utterance  and  force  of  expression  as  to 
make  an  auditor  tremble.  This  effect  was  produced 
by  the  intonations  of  the  voice,  let  it  be  remembered, 
unassisted  by  any  communication  of  thought.  How 
powerful,  then,  must  such  intonations  become  when 
employed  in  the  delivery  of  sublime,  glowing  thought ! 
The  time  spent  in  the  study  of  some  well-digested 
system  of  elocution,  and  in  receiving  the  instructions 
of  some  competent  teacher,  will  not  be  lost  to  the 
Christian  minister.  Let  him  not  fear  that  art  and 
science  will  make  him  stiff  and  mechanical ;  for, 
should  they  have  this  effect,  he  will  suffer  no  harm ; 
it  will  only  prove  that  he  was  Avanting  in  some  of  the 
necessary  constitutional  elements  of  the  pulpit  oia- 
tor.  The  hints  imbodied  in  this  section  will  not 
supersede  the  necessity  of  the  instructions  of  the 
elocutionist. 

2.  Another  thing  essential  to  a  good  elocution,  is 
distinctness  of  articulation. 

Dr.  Blair,  in  his  Lectures,  remarks :  "  Distinctness 
of  articulation  contributes  more,  perhaps,  to  being 
well  heard  and  clearly  understood  than  mere  loud- 
ness  of  sound.  The  quantity  of«eound  necessary  to 
fill  even  a  large  space  is  smaller  than  is  commonly 
imagined ;  and,  with  a  distinct  articulation,  a  man 
with  a  weak  voice  will  make  it  reach  further  than 


COMMUNICATION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.       229 

toe  strongest  voice  ca'n  reach  without  it  To  this, 
therefore,  every  public  speaker  ought  to  pay  great 
attention.  He  must  give  every  sound  which  he 
utters  its  due  proportion,  and  let  every  syllable,  and 
even  every  letter  in  the  word  which  he  pronounces, 
be  distinctly  heard,  without  slurring,  whispering,  or 
suppressing  any  of  the  proper  sounds."  Cicero  says 
that  the  Catuli,  on  account  of  their  distinct  articula- 
tion, were  considered  the  best  speakers  of  the  Latin 
language.* 

Dr.  Porter  tells  us,  that  a  friend  of  his,  a  respecta- 
ble lawyer,  informed  him,  "  that,  in  a  court  which  he 
usually  attended,  there  was  often  much  difficulty  in 
hearing  what  was  spoken  at  the  bar,  and  from  the 
bench.  One  of  the  judges,  however,  a  man  of  slen- 
der health,  and  somewhat  advanced  in  age,  was 
heard  with  perfect  ease  in  every  part  of  the  court- 
room, whenever  he  spoke.  So  observable  was  the 
difference  between  him  and  others,  that  the  fact  was 
mentioned  to  him,  as  a  subject  of  curiosity.  The 
judge  explained  it  by  saying,  that  his  vocal  powers, 
which  were  originally  quite  imperfect,  had  acquired 
clearness  and  strength  by  the  long-continued  habit 
of  reading  aloud,  for  about  .half  an  hour,  every  day  ' 
The  common  errors  in  articulation  are  pointed  out 
in  our  works  on  elocution.  Every  public  speaker, 
however,  can  do  much  toward  the  attainment  of  a 
good  articulation,  by  having  some  friend  point  out 
its  defects,  from  time  to  time,  and  then  exercising 
himself  with  special  reference  to  their  correction. 
*  De  Officiis. 


230  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

3.  Attention  must  also  be  paid  to  accentuation. 
Every  word  in  the  English  language  has  one  or 
more  accented  syllables ;  the  perfect  use  of  that  Ian' 
guage  cannot  be  attained  without  a  thorough  mastery 
of  accentuation.     It  may  be  true,  as  Professor  Cald- 
well  observes,  that  it  "  plays  but  a  subordinate  part 
in  speech ;  but  yet  it  is  a  great  source  of  variety,'1 
and  is  often  necessary  in  oral  discourse  to  determine 
the  signification  of  a  word,  as  many  words  having 
different  meanings  must  have  the  accent  determined 
by  the  particular  signification  with  which  it  is  used. 
Thus,  des'ert,  a  wilderness ;  desert',  merit  or  demerit . 
— con 'duct,  behavior;  conduct',  to  lead  or  manage. 

4.  Attention  must  also  be  paid  to  emphasis.     It  is 
said  that  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  by  John  Ma- 
son was  a  commentary  on  them ;  and  that  the  read- 
ing of  the  hymns   by  Mr.  Nettleton  was  often  a 
sermon  to  the  assembly.     This  resulted  from  their 
perfect  accent  and  emphasis,  combined  with  appiv/- 
priate  intonations  of  the  voice.     "  Emphasis,"  says 
Mr.  Sturtevant,  "  either  establishes  the  true  sense 
of  a  sentence  or  perverts  it." 

The  following  two  examples,  taken  from  the  same 
author,  will  suffice  to  illustrate  this  point: — 

(1.)  "Take,  for  example,  the  words  of  our  Sa- 
viour, John  vi,  67  :'  Will  ye  also  go  away  ?'  Here 
the  emphasis  is  certainly  required  upon  the  word 
ye.  '  The  crowd  is  gone,  the  crowd  is  offended,  and 
will  ye  go  after  them  ?'  The  reply  of  St.  Peter,  in 
the  name  of  his  fellow-disciples,  proves  this  point 
Now,  although  I  have  fixed  upon  the  emphasis,  yet 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      231 

there  is  very  strong  meaning  in  the  sentence,  on 
whichever  word  the  emphasis  is  placed.  Upon  the 
•word  ye  it  is  very  strong :  '  Ye,  my  disciples,  whom 
I  have  taken  under  my  wing,  whom  I  have  taught 
and  ins!  ructed ;  consider  the  profession  you  have 
made,  the  obligations  you  are  under,  the  expecta- 
tions you  have  from  me.'  If  we  place  the  emphasi? 
upon  also,  then  it  refers  to  those  who  have  departed ; 
if  on  the  words  go  away,  fresh  matter  immediately 
appears :  '  Will  you  leave  your  Master  ?  are  you 
willing  to  relinquish  all  claim  to  my  care,  love,  ten- 
derness, protection,  and  salvation  ?  What  wrong 
have  you  found  in  me  V  have  I  ever  disappointed 
jour  just  and  reasonable  hopes?  have  I  ever  been 
a  I  irren  wilderness  to  you  ?  Can  you  find  a  better 
Master?  will  your  adversary,  the  devil,  will  the 
world,  or  sin,  promise  or  perform  what  I  make  over 
to  you  in  the  New  Testament?  What  can  earth, 
what  can  heaven,  do  for  you  ?  If  you  draw  back, 
my  soul  shall  have  no  pleasure  in  you ;  and  can  you 
bear  my  departure  from  you  ?' " 

(2.)  Dr.  Blair  points  out  several  shades  of  differ- 
enre  in  the  point  and  meaning  that  may  attach  to 
the  appeal  Christ  made  to  Judas,  according  as  the 
emphasis  is  placed:  "Judas,  betrayest  thou  the  Son 
o^  man  with  a  kiss !"  Emphasizing  the  word  be- 
irayest,  makes  the  reproach  turn  on  the  infamy  of 
treachery.  Betrayest  thou  !  makes  it  rest  on  Judas'8 
connection  with  his  Master.  Betrayest  thou  the 
Son  of  man !  rests  it  on  Christ's  character  as  Re- 
deemer. Place  the  emphasis  on  the  word  kiss,  and 


232  MFNTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

it  turns  upon  prostituting  the  signal  ot  peace  to  the 
purpose  of  destruction.  Now,  I  submit  that  the  em- 
phasis ought  to  lie  on  the  word  thou,  which  marks 
Judas's  connection  with  his  Master,  because  it  agrees 
with  the  prophetic  language  of  Psalm  xli,  9  :  "  Yea, 
uiy  own  familiar  friend,"  &c. 

With  reference  to  the  use  of  emphasis,  Mr.  Stur- 
tevant  suggests  the  following  caution : — "  It  is  better 
to  emphasize  too  little  than  too  much.  Extrava- 
gance is  always  disgusting,  and  an  attempt  to  make 
almost  every  other  word  emphatic  is  quite  contrary 
to  a  just  manner." 

5.  Attention  must  be  paid  to  a  proper  variation 
of  the  voice.     The  Ars  varianda  of  Quintilian  has  not 
escaped  the  attention  of  rhetoricians.     The  orator 
must  study  variety  in  his  speaking.     The  richest 
thought,  expressed  in  the  chastest  and  most  forcible 
language,  cannot  redeem  a  speaker  from  the  impu- 
tation of  tiresome  dullness  when  he  is  characterized 
by  a  monotonous  delivery. 

Neither  will  a  mere  mechanical  change — regulated 
by  no  just  appreciation  of  the  sentiment  expressed — 
answer  to  this  requisite  variety.  It  is  difficult  to  tell 
whether  monotony  is  more  tiresome,  or  mere  me- 
chanical variety  more  disgusting. 

6.  Of  pause  in  elocution.     "  Notice  must  also  be 
taken  of  the  rest  or  pause"  says  Mr.  Sturtevant, 
"  that  is,  we  are  sometimes  to  suspend  discourse. 
Race-horses  must  not  stop  till  they  pass  the  post ;  but 
not  so  with  the  preacher  or  reader ;  he  is  allowed  to 
take  breath  freely  at  suitable  places  in  his  discourse." 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      233 

We,  however,  refer  here  more  particularly  to  the 
pause  that  is  made  for  rhetorical  effect  or  to  give  just 
expression  to  the  sentiment — a  pause  that  speaks 
while  the  orator's  voice  is  suspended.  "  There  are 
some  occasions,"  says  Cambray,  in  his  Dialogues  on 
Eloquence,  "  when  an  orator  might  best  express  hi3 
thoughts  by  silence ;  for  if,  being  full  of  some  great 
sentiment,  he  continue  immovable  for  a  moment, 
the  surprising  pause  will  keep  the  minds  of  the  au- 
dience in  suspense,  and  express  an  emotion  too  big 
for  words  to  utter." 

This  pause  is  sometimes  necessary,  in  order  to 
convey  the  sense  of  the  text.  Mr.  Sturtevant  illus- 
trates this  by  a  reference  to  Matt,  xi,  7 :  "  What 
went  ye  out  into  the  wilderness  to  see  ?  a  reed 
shaken  with  the  wind  ?"  If  these  words  be  read  as 
a  question  and  answer,  which  is  evidently  oppo- 
site to  our  Lord's  meaning,  it  is  as  much  as  though 
our  Redeemer  meant  to  say  that  John  was  unworthy 
of  attention,  that  he  was  a  fickle,  unstable,  incon- 
stant preacher,  carried  about  with  every  wind  of 
doctrine.  Whereas,  if  we  consider  the  passage  as 
two  questions,  (as  it  really  is,)  the  sense  clearly  ap- 
pears to  be  a  strong  assertion  to  the  contrary,  that 
John  was  a  person  of  quite  a  different  character, 
and  that  he  stood  firm  and  immovable  as  an  "  iron 
pillar,"  or  a  brazen  Wall ;  that  the  doctrines  ho 
preached  were  not  yea  and  nay,  but  yea  and  amen. 
Therefore  to  mark  the  above  passage  properly,  a 
pause  must  be  used  after  the  first  question,  to  give 
silent  eloquence  to  the  passage,  and  the  same  after 


234  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

the  second  question;  then  our  Lord's  meaning  ap- 
pears to  advantage. 

SECTION  XXI. — Consider  tJie  importance  of  manner  at 
contributing  to  a  good  delivery. 

"  Action  is  eloquence,  and  the  eyes  of  tlie  ignorar.t 
More  learned  than  their  ears." 

"  Such,  in  my  view,"  says  Mr.  Sturtevant,  "  is  the 
importance  attaching  to  the  manner  in  which  any- 
thing is  done  that  it  may  be  called  a  distinct  study, 
and  one  that  is  well  worthy  the  student's  attention. 
When  we  consider  the  commanding  influence  the 
mere  manner  of  a  thing  obtains  among  men,  how 
much  the  best  actions  may  suffer  from  the  manner 
in  which  they  are  performed,  and  how  often  the 
manner  will  carry  a  point  with  very  slender  means, 
must  we  not  admit  that  it  ought  to  receive  our  best 
attention  in  everything  we  execute,  in  everything 
we  say,  and  in  everything  in  which  our  fellow-men 
are  to  be  our  observers  and  critics  ?  The  manner 
u:  which  an  army  is  arranged  and  a  battle  fought  is 
commonly  of  great  consequence,  and  often  contri- 
butes more  to  the  victory  than  valor  or  numerical 
strength.  Often  has  the  manner  of  the  orator  been 
found  so  to  strike  the  eye  and  ear,  that  thunders  of 
applause  have  followed  a  well-delivered  sentence,  a 
just  emphasis,  or  a  graceful  cadence,  though  Iha 
sentence  itself  would  have  passed  unnoticed,  but 
for  such  an  appendage.  We  have  popular  preach- 
ers who  owe  almost  everything  to  their  manner; 
and  many  others  who  ought  to  be  popular,  and 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      235 

certainly  would  be  so,  if  an  attention  to  manner  oc- 
cupied one-tenth  of  the  time  and  pains  occupied  on 
their  compositions." 

Dr.  Blair,  in  one  of  his  lectures,  employs  the  fol- 
lowing forcible  argument  on  the  subject  of  manner 
ir  delivery  : — "  When  we  address  ourselves  to  others 
by  words,  our  intention  certainly  is  to  make  some 
impression  on  those  to  whom  we  speak  ;  it  is  to  con- 
vey to  them  our  ideas  or  emotions.  Now,  the  tone 
of  our  voice,  our  looks  and  gestures,  interpret  our 
ideas  and  emotions  no  less  than  words  do  ;  nay,  the 
impression  they  make  on  others  is  frequently  much 
stronger  than  any  that  words  can  make.  We  often 
see  that  an  expressive  look,  or  a  passionate  cry,  un- 
accompanied by  words,  conveys  to  others  more  for- 
cible ideas,  and  rouses  within  them  stronger  passions, 
than  can  be  communicated  by  the  most  eloquent 
discourse.  The  signification  of  our  sentiments  made, 
by  tones  and  gestures,  has  this  advantage  over  that 
made  by  words,  that  it  is  the  language  of  nature.  It 
is  that  method  of  interpreting  our  mind  which  nature 
has  dictated  to  all,  and  which  is  understood  by  all ; 
whereas,  words  are  arbitrary  conventional  symbols 
of  our  ideas,  and  by  consequence,  must  make  a  more 
feeble  impression.  So  true  is  this,  that  to  render 
words  fully  significant,  they  in  almost  every  case 
receive  some  aid  from  the  manner  of  pronunciation 
and  delivery ;  and  he  who,  in  speaking,  should  em- 
ploy bare  words,  without  enforcing  them  by  proper 
tones  and  accent,  would  leave  us  with  a  faint  and 
indistinct  impression,  often  with  a  doubtful  and  am- 


236  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

biguous  conception  of  what  he  had  delivered.  Nay, 
so  close  is  the  connection  between  certain  senti- 
ments and  the  proper  manner  of  pronouncing  them, 
that  he  who  does  not  pronounce  them  after  that 
manner,  can  never  persuade  us  that  he  'jelieves  or 
feels  the  sentiments  themselves." 

"  Pleads  he  in  earnest  ?    Look  upon  his  face  ; 
His  eyes  do  drop  no  tears,  his  prayers  are  jest ; 
His  words  come  from  his  mouth,  ours  from  our  breast , 
He  prays  but  faintly  and  would  be  denied  ; 
We  pray  with  heart  and  soul." 

It  is  astonishing  what  force  and  effect  manner  will 
add  to  the  most  finished  discourse.  "It  is  a  matter 
of  history,"  says  Mr.  Sturtevant,  "  that  Roscius,  a 
celebrated  Roman  actor,  and  Cicero,  had  an  amiable 
contest  with  each  other  which  could  represent  the 
same  thought  in  the  greatest  number  of  ways,  the 
former  by  gesture  and  the  latter  by  words  ;  and  it  ia 
stated,  though  we  can  hardly  believe  it,  that  neither 
party  could  be  pronounced  victorious.  This  contest 
is  mentioned  by  Cicero  himself,  in  one  of  his  letters. 
It  is  spoken  of  by  Macrobius  as  one  of  habitual  oc- 
currence in  the  intercourse  between  these  two  dis- 
tinguished Romans."* 

"  The  art  of  pantomime  affords  a  specimen  of  the 
precision  and  force  with  which  gesture  is  capable  of 

•  Satis  constat  contendere  eum  (Ciceronem)eum  ipso  histrione 
(Roscio)  solitum.utrum  ille  ssepius  eandem  sententiam  variis  ges- 
tilms  efltceret,  an  ipse,  per  eloquentiae  copiam,  sermorie  diversa 
pronunciaret.  Quse  res  ad  hanc  artis  suse  fiduciam  Roscium  ab 
strnxit,  ut  librum  conscriberet  quo  eloquentiatn  cum  histrionii 
comperaret. — Macrobius,  Saturn,  ii,  10 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      237 

/mparting  ideas  without  the  aid  of  oral  language." 
The  pantomimic  exhibitions  are  recorded  to  have 
produced  a  powerful  effect  upon  Greek  and  Roman 
assemblies.  Lucian  relates,  that  "  a  celebrated  pan- 
tomimic actor,  of  the  time  of  Nero,  prevailed  upon 
the  cynic  philosopher,  Demetrius,  who  was  always 
ridiculing  pantomimes  and  inveighing  against  the 
folly  of  the  people  in  being  so  much  entertained  by 
them,  to  be  present  at  his  performance  on  a  certain 
occasion.  Demetrius  was  so  delighted  that  he  could 
not  contain  himself,  but  shouted  out,  '  Man !  I  not 
only  see,  but  hear  you,  for  your  very  hands  speak  !' " 
The  above  will  almost  lead  us  to  credit  an  inci- 
dent recorded  of  one  of  our  own  orators,  and  which 
is  here  related  from  memory.  It  was  at  one  of  the 
vast  political  gatherings  at  the  south,  where  William 
C.  Preston  was  making  one  of  his  most  impassioned 
speeches,  that  a  spectator  says,  "  I  observed  an  indi- 
vidual by  my  side  who  joined  in  the  acclamations  of 
the  multitude  as  the  speaker  turned  off  one  period 
after  another.  And  just  as  he  poured  out  one  of 
those  massive,  overwhelming  torrents  of  eloquence, 
for  which  he  is  so  distinguished,  the  individual, 
whose  strange  motions  had  attracted  our  attention, 
responded  with  a  shout  that  was  heard  above  the 
acclamations  of  the  multitude,  and  immediately 
turning  to  me,  bawled  in  my  ear,  '  Who  is  that 
speaking  ?'  '  William  C.  Preston,'  I  responded. 
4  Who  ?'  said  he,  louder  than  before.  '  William  C. 
Preston,'  I  responded  again,  at  the  top  of  my  voice. 
'Split  me,  if  I  can  hear  a  word — I'm  deaf — but  don't 


238  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

he  do  the  MOTIONS  splendid?'  And  to  my  astonish 
mcnt  I  found  he  was  perfectly  deaf — unable  to  hear 
a  word." 

Lucian  also  relates,  that  "  a  prince  of  Pontus,  on 
co.ning  to  Rome  to  do  homage  to  the  emperor, 
visited  the  theatre,  and  was  beyond  measure  de- 
lighted with  the  performances.  When  about  to 
leave  Rome  for  his  own  dominion,  Nero  desired  him 
to  request  some  present  as  a  mark  of  his  regard. 
The  prince  begged  his  principal  pantomimic  actor. 
Being  asked  the  reason  of  this  request,  he  replied, 
that  there  were  different  barbarous  nations  around 
him,  speaking  different  languages,  and  it  was  difficult 
for  him  to  procure  suitable  interpreters  in  his  inter- 
course with  them,  but  this  actor  would  just  serve  his 
purpose."  Adair,  in  his  History  of  the  American 
Indians,  makes  the  statement,  here  quoted,  second- 
hand, from  memory,  that  "  two  far  distant  Indian  na- 
tions, who  understood  not  a  word  of  each  other's 
language,  will  intelligibly  converse  together  and  con- 
tract engagements  without  any  interpreters,  in  such 
a  surprising  manner  as  is  scarcely  credible."  Such 
statements  might  have  seemed  incredible  had  they 
not  been  more  than  confirmed  by  the  familiarity 
with  which  the  deaf  and  dumb  are  now  able  to  hold 
intercourse  through  the  medium  of  natural  and  arti 
licial  signs.  A  few  years  since,  an  assistant  teache. 
ir.  the  Hartford  Asylum,  himself  deaf  and  dumb,  held 
a  long  conversation  with  a  Chinese  youth,  gathering 
from  him  much  information  concerning  himse?f  and 
bis  country. 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      239 

From  the  above  facts  we  learn  that  action  is  a 
means  of  conveying  ideas  and  also  of  exciting  eino- 
lion.  The  perfect  orator  must  be  no  less  skilled  in 
action  than  in  the  use  of  language,  and  both  must 
be  employed  as  vehicles  of  thought  and  emotion. 
How  much  may  their  perfect  command  contribute 
to  the  success  of  the  Christian  orator  ?  These  are 
accomplishments,  however,  that  are  to  be  acquired, 
and  they  must  be  acquired  and  made  habitual  out  of 
the  pulpit. 

We  will  append  the  following  paragraph,  quoted 
from  Longman's  Essay  on  Public  Speaking  by  S. 
T.  Sturtevant: — 

"  Tranquillity  appears  by  the  composure  of  the 
countenance  and  of  all  parts  of  the  body.  Joy  and 
delight,  in  proportion  to  their  degree,  open  the 
countenance  and  elevate  the  voice.  Love  brightens 
the  countenance  into  a  smile,  and  turns  the  eyes  as 
toward  the  object  ;  the  tone  of  the  voice  is  tender 
and  persuasive.  Gratitude  gently  elevates  the  voice 
and  the  eyes,  and  lays  the  right  hand  on  the  heart. 
Admiration  joins  with  these  an  air  of  astonishment 
and  respect.  Veneration  is  more  grave  and  serious, 
with  less  surprise.  Shame  changes  the  countenance 
and  declines  the  head ;  the  speaker  faulters  in  his 
utterance,  or  is  silent.  Remorse,  or  a  painful  sense 
of  guilt,  is  further  expressed  by  the  right  hand 
striking  the  breast,  the  eyes  weeping,  the  body 
trembling ;  and  in  true  penitence  the  eyes  are  some- 
times raised  with  humble  hope.  Fear  opens  wide 
the  eves  and  mouth,  gives  to  the  countenance  an  air 


240  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

of  wildness,  covers  it  -with  paleness,  projects  the 
hand,  draws  back  the  trembling  body ;  the  voice  is 
weak,  the  sentences  are  short,  confused,  incoherent 
Pity,  which  is  a  mixture  of  love  and  grief,  looka 
down  upon  distress  with  uplifted  hands  and  tender 
eyes ;  the  accent  is  plaintive,  often  accompanied  with 
tears.  Grief,  if  sudden  and  violent,  expresses  itself 
by  beating  the  breast,  weeping,  and  by  other  atti 
tudes  approaching  to  distraction.  Courage  opens 
the  countenance,  gives  the  whole  form  an  erect  and 
graceful  air ;  the  voice  is  firm,  even,  and  articulate. 
Anger  expresses  itself  with  rapidity,  harshness,  noise, 
and  a  threatening  attitude.  Aversion  or  hatred  draws 
back  the  body,  turns  the  face  on  one  side,  as  from 
the  object,  and  throws  out  the  hands  on  the  opposite 
side.  Commendation  is  expressed  by  an  open,  plea 
sant,  and  respectful  countenance,  a  mild  tone  of 
voice,  and  the  arms  gently  extended  as  toward  the 
person  we  approve.  Reproof  puts  on  a  stern  coun- 
tenance and  a  solemn  voice,  sometimes  with  a  mix- 
ture of  tenderness  and  affection.  Invitation  has  a 
moderate  degree  of  expression  of  love  and  respect, 
with  the  hand  beckoning  the  person  toward  us. 
Soliciting  or  requesting,  adds  humility  to  reverei  ce. 
Dismissing  with  approbation,  is  done  with  a  kind 
aspect  and  tone  of  voice,  the  right  hand  open,  and 
gently  waved  toward  the  person." 

N.  B. — He  that  thinks  these  positions,  of  them- 
selves, will  produce  their  respective  emotions,  greatly 
mistakes.  The  emotion  must  be  felt  at  the  moment 
of  assuming  the  position,  or  giving  expression  to  it. 


COMMUNICATION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.      241 


SECTION  XXII. — Study  tlie  best  living  models  of  delivery. 

Oratory  is  an  art,  and  it  is  unquestionable  that  ex 
ample  is  a  more  effective  teacher  of  art  than  precept. 
The  thousand  little  arts  by  which  the  orator  gives 
effect  to  his  delivery,  it  would  be  utterly  impossible 
to  enumerate  in  description,  and  equally  so  to  enforce 
them  by  precept ;  but  they  may  be  readily  observed 
in  delivery,  and  their  effect  upon  the  audience  as 
well  as  upon  ourselves  carefully  noted.  In  this  way 
may  we  learn  from  the  living  model  that  which  no 
instructor  could  teach,  and  which  no  precept  could 
produce. 

Professor  Ostervald  instructs  his  pupils,  that  "  at- 
tendance on  good  speakers  and  able  ministers,  is  an 
important  advantage,  and  the  shortest  way  to  suc- 
ceed. ...  It  is  a  singular  privilege  to  be  favored 
with  models  of  eloquence.  From  living  models  we 
may  learn  the  graces  of  elocution."  Mr.  Sturtevant 
also  enjoins  upon  young  preachers,  "  as  far  as  you 
have  opportunity,  take  the  benefit  of  the  best  living 
examples — the  best  public  preachers,  the  best  plead- 
ers, the  most  eloquent  of  our  senators."  The  efforts 
of  Cioero  to  hear,  and  to  make  himself  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  oratory  of  all  the  masters  of 
eloquence  in  his  day,  are  well  known.  For  this  pur- 
pose he  traveled  abroad,  and  frequented  not  only  the 
halls  of  the  rhetoricians  but  also  the  places  of  public 
harangue.  It  may  indeed  be  questioned  whether 
the  highest  development  of  power  can  be  attained 
1G 


242  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

without  the  careful  study  of  the  living  models  of  elo« 
quence. 

This  study  is  as  indispensable  in  the  cultivation  of 
sacred  as  of  secular  eloquence.  Erasmus  says,  "  It 
will  therefore  be  useful  for  young  men  who  are  de- 
signed for  the  Christian  ministry,  frequently  to  re- 
sort to  the  discourses  of  truly  eloquent  men,  and  by 
degrees  to  be  habituated  to  them,  that  they  may  re- 
member and  respect  what  they  have  heard."*  Too 
close  an  imitation  of  any  model,  however  excellent, 
is  inadmissible.  The  object  of  studying  such  models 
is  to  store  the  mind  with  the  principles  of  eloquence, 
not  to  make  of  ourselves  mere  imitators.  For  imi- 
tation can  rarely  consist  with  naturalness,  and  that 
which  is  not  natural  cannot  be  eloquent. 

The  following  caution  of  Ostervald  is  worthy  of 
attention : — "  Those  who  are  desirous  of  forming 
themselves  on  living  models,  should  be  cautious  not 
to  imitate  the  faults  of  their  favorite  preachers.  If 
they  imitate  them  too  closely,  they  will  become  ridi- 
culous. We  should  never  imitate  others  but  in 
things  which  agree  with  our  character,  and  corre- 
spond with  our  talents.  To  know  this  every  man 
must  examine  his  own  gifts.  If  a  man  of  mild  ad- 
dress affect  to  speak  like  one  who  has  a  powerful 
eloquence,  he  will  not  succeed." 

*  Profuerit  igitur  adolesrentes  concioni  destinatos  frequenter  i-d 
eloquentium  hominum  condones  additeere  ac  paulatim  con-suefa- 
cere.ut  meminerint  ac  leddant  qiae  audierint.— De  Arle  Conci- 
cnandi. 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       243 


SECIION  XXIII. — Do  not  attach  too  much  impoilaruA  to 
artificial  rules  for  delivery. 

AVh«  ther  the  orator  is  dependent  more  upon  nature 
than  upon  art,  it  is  useless  to  inquire.  But  it  is  cer- 
tain that  he  cannot  be  made  by  rule.  Art  may  assist. 
But  he  who  is  incessantly  trammeled  by  rules  and 
formulas,  so  as  to  impede  the  spontaneous  gushings 
of  thought  and  emotion,  can  never  be  eloquent.  He 
may  be  exact,  critical,  minute  ;  his  thoughts  may  be 
just,  apposite,  comprehensive  even ;  but,  after  all, 
he  cannot  attain  to  the  character  of  true  eloquence. 
In  this  all  rules  are  forgotten,  as  well  as  observed ; 
thought  answers  to  emotion,  and  emotion  gives  ex- 
pression to  gesture  and  action,  so  that,  while  no 
sound  rule  is  violated,  the  speaker  obtains  an  eleva- 
tion above  all  rule.  You  may  as  well  attempt  to 
regulate  by  rule  the  intonations  of  the  mother's 
voice  as  she  bewails  the  untimely  death  of  her  only 
child — pouring  out  the  bitter  anguish  of  her  heart 
in  cries  that  penetrate  and  subdue  the  soul,  as  to 
impose  rules  and  formulas  upon  the  impassioned  tor- 
rent of  true  eloquence.  Art  is,  indeed,  to  be  em- 
ployed ;  but  it  must  be  employed  at  home ;  it  must 
also  bo  left  at  home,  and  nature  only  appear  in  tho 
pulpit. 

We  wish  the  idea  to  be  impressed  deeply  upon 
the  minds  of  all  who  would  study  oratory,  that  there 
is  a  wide  difference  between  observing  the  rules  of 
eloquence  and  being  eloquent.  All  your  words  and 


244  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

gestures  may  be  as  ruleaUe — as  systematic  and  uni- 
form— as  the  rain-drops  descending  at  the  moment  of 
my  writing,  and  yet  imbody  no  more  real  eloquence 
than  is  expressed  in  their  pattering  against  the  case- 
ment of  my  window.  A  mechanical,  strained,  forced 
delivery,  will  blunt  the  edge  of  even  truth  itself,  and 
take  off  the  force  of  the  most  momentous  and  im- 
pressive thought.  A  man  cannot  be  in  a  more  di- 
rect way  of  exposing  himself  to  ridicule,  than  to  act 
upon  the  supposition,  that  the  mechanical  stringing 
together  of  sentences,  and  uttering  them  with  mea- 
sured intonation  and  gesture,  as  uniformly  recur- 
ring as  the  bars  in  music,  constitute  the  elements 
of  good  delivery. 

SECTION  XXIV. — Let  your  chief  solicitude  have  reference 
to  the  matter  rather  than  the  manner. 

"  It  is  of  great  importance  that  the  language  we  em- 
ploy should  be  the  adequate  and  appropriate  vehicle 
of  thought,  but  the  primary  object  of  anxiety  should 
be  that  we  may  have  ideas  worthy  of  conveyance. 
No  labored  embellishments  of  style  can  compensate 
for  poverty  of  thought,  nor  will  the  act  of  communi- 
cation be  usually  difficult,  if  the  ideas  possess  an  in- 
trinsic value.  But  if  we  introduce  to  the  attention 
of  the  hearer  no  sentiment-  or  thought <  worthy  of 
his  regard,  or  adapted  to  keep  alive  a  feeling  of  in- 
terest in  his  mind,  he  will  inevitably  become  weary 
and  listless.  If  we  present  to  him  no  materials  for 
the  operation  of  thinking  to  which  he  attaches  any 
value,  we  shall  appear  to  him  to  have  forfeited  all 


COMMUNICATION   OF   KNOWLEDGE.      245 

claim  upoi  his  attention.  He  will  complain  that 
we  '  afford  neither  exercise  for  his  reason,  nor  enter- 
tainment to  his  fancy.' 

"  Now,  in  order  to  give  real  value  to  a  discourse, 
and  a  fitness  to  accomplish  the  object  proposed,  we 
should  be  anxious  to  secure  three  points : — There 
should  be  a  clear  elucidation  or  enforcement  of  some 
Scriptural  truth — there  should  be  in  every  part  of 
the  discourse  continuity  of  thought — and  there 
should  be  in  the  structure  of  the  whole,  an  adapta- 
tion to  produce  impression  and  effect." 

Also  at  the  moment  of  delivery  the  mind  must  be 
most  occupied  with  the  matter,  as  it  is  from  the 
ideas,  as  they  rise  in  order,  that  the  mind  is  to  re- 
ceive impulse,  and  emotion  is  to  be  excited.  It  is 
the  thought  that  constitutes  the  substratum,  the  foun- 
dation, of  all  eloquence.  When  the  subject  is  clearly 
perceived,  and  appropriately  felt,  expression  will 
most  likely  be  effective  and  graceful.  In  fact,  all 
action  at  the  time  of  delivery,  that  does  not  have  at 
least  the  appearance  of  being  unstudied,  will  always 
be  intolerable ;  and  in  no  place  more  so  than  in  the 
pulpit.  Indeed,  we  will  go  further,  and  insist  upon 
the  practical  rule  of  Dr.  Whately  upon  this  point ; 
which  is,  "  not  only  to  pay  no  studied  attention  to 
the  voice,  but  studiously  to  withdraw  the  thoughts 
from  it,  and  to  dwell  as  intently  as  possible  on  the 
sense,  trusting  to  nature  to  suggest  spontaneously 
the  proper  emphases  and  tones."  This  rule  we  con- 
sider perfectly  consistent  with  the  most  careful  pre- 
vious training  of  the  individual  with  reference  to  the 


246  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

management  of  the  voice  and  the  use  of  gesture. 
The  training  of  the  voice  and  the  gesture  should  be 
general  rather  than  with  reference  to  a  specific  dis- 
course or  occasion,  and  generally  upon  se'e  t  pieces 
from  other  authors  rather  than  upon  our  own  prepared 
sermons  which  we  are  expecting  soon  to  deliver.  If 
the  extemporaneous  preacher,  exercising  himself  Sa- 
turday night  upon  the  sermon  he  is  to  preach  on  the 
next  day,  enter  into  all  the  minutiae  of  gesture,  "  the 
study  of  attitudes " — saying,  "  Here  I  must  start  as 
with  affright,  and  there  weep  with  emotion ;  here  I 
must  hold  up  my  forefinger  with  a  significant  motion, 
and  there  give  to  my  right  hand  a  graceful  wave ; 
here  I  must  vociferate  with  the  energy  of  a  Boaner- 
ges, and  there  melt  with  the  lute-like  tones  of  love  ;" 
such  preaching,  (or  acting,)  I  tell  him,  will  be  too 
affected  for  the  pulpit ;  it  will  disgust  his  hearers ;  it 
can  do  their  souls  no  good  ;  it  can  never  win  souls  to 
Christ. 

Another  reason  why  the  matter  of  the  discourse, 
rather  than  the  manner  in  which  it  is  to  be  delivered; 
should  occupy  the  attention,  is,  that  all  true  emotioi- 
must  arise  from  the  contemplation  of  the  subject. 
And  when  this  emotion  is  excited,  the  countenance, 
like  a  faithful  mirror,  reflects  it,  and  all  the  gestures, 
prompted  as  they  are  by  the  genuine  emotions,  har- 
monize in  the  general  effect.  The  real  power  of  de- 
livery depends  not  upon  any  histrionic  artifices  of 
tone  and  gesture,  but  upon  the  harmonious  blending 
together  of  sentiment,  feeling,  and  expression.  This 
is  the  "caput  artis"  of  all,  but  especially  of  pulpit, 


COJOIUINCATION   OF  KNOWLEDGE.      247 

oratory.     This  at  once  commands  the  reason  and 
sways  the  feelings  of  the  auditory. 

In  a  few,  if  any,  have  these  grand  elements  of  true 
oratory  been  so  harmoniously  blended,  and  so  strong- 
ly exhibited,  as  in  Robert  Hall,  and  the  immediate 
impression  upon  his  congregation  was  such  as  might 
have  been  expected.  "From  the  commencement 
of  his  discourse,"  says  Dr.  Gregory,  "  an  almost 
breathless  anxiety  prevailed,  deeply  impressive  and 
solemnizing  from  its  singular  intenseness;  not  a 
sound  was  heard  but  that  of  the  preacher's  voice ; 
scarcely  an  eye  but  was  fixed  upon  him ;  not  a 
countenance  that  he  did  not  watch,  and  read,  and 
interpret,  as  he  surveyed  them  again  and  again  with 
his  ever  excursive  glance.  As  he  advanced  and  in- 
creased in  animation,  five  or  six  of  his  auditors  would 
be  seen  to  rise  and  lean  forward  over  the  front  of 
their  pews,  still  keeping  their  eyes  fixed  upon  him. 
Some  new  or  striking  sentiment  or  expression  would, 
in  a  few  moments,  cause  others  to  rise  in  like  man- 
ner ;  and  shortly  afterward  still  more ;  and  so  on, 
until  long  before  the  close  of  the  sermon  it  often 
happened  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the  congre- 
gation was  seen  standing ;  every  eye  directed  to  the 
preacher,  yet,  now  and  then  for  a  moment  glancing 
from  one  to  another,  thus  transmitting  and  reci- 
procating thought  and  feeling.  Mr.  Hall,  lamself, 
though  manifestly  absorbed  in  his  subject,  conscious 
of  the  whole,  receiving  new  animation  from  what  he 
thus  witnessed,  reflecting  it  back  upon  those  who 
were  already  alive  to  the  inspiration,  until  all  tha* 


248  MENTAL   DlSCIPLIXK. 

was  susceptible  of  thought  and  emotion  seemed 
wound  up  to  the  utmost  elevation  of  thought  upon 
earth,  when  he  woulu  close,  and  they  reluctantly  and 
slowly  resume  their  seats." 

SECTION  XXV. — Accustom  yourself  to  the  frequent  exer- 
cise of  your  powers,  when  it  can  be  done  with  suitable  pre- 
paration. 

Nearly  all  eminent  public  speakers  have  been  ac- 
customed to  the  daily  exercise  of  their  vocal  organs 
either  in  reading  or  declamation.  Many  have  studi- 
ously practiced  gesture  before  a  mirror.  These  fre- 
quent exercises  they  found  essential  to  the  retention 
of  improvements  already  made,  as  well  as  for  the  at- 
tainment of  others  within  their  power.  So  in  public 
speaking,  the  frequent  exercise  of  it,  when  it  can  be 
done  with  suitable  preparation  and  interest,  will  be 
greatly  beneficial.  It  has  been  observed  that  some 
of  our  most  eloquent  preachers,  when  they  had  been 
disused  to  public  discourse  for  a  time,  or  preached 
only  at  intervals  widely  separated,  became  dry, 
constrained,  and  tiresome,  in  their  delivery,  and  did 
not  recover  from  these  impediments  to  effective 
speaking,  till  after  they  had  been  engaged  again  for 
some  time  in  the  active  duties  of  the  ministry. 

AVe  would  not,  however,  recommend  the  practice 
of  those  ministers  who  are  always  haranguing,  with 
but  little  reference  to  time,  or  place,  or  preparation. 
It  cannot  be  that  they  have  any  just  views  of  the 
dignity  and  importance  of  the  sacred  office,  or  any 
just  conception  of  the  amount  of  labor  absolute^ 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       L  49 

necessary,  even  by  the  most  gifted  minds,  for  the 
production  of  an  able  sermon.  Such  persons,  by  the 
looseness  of  their  logic,  the  feebleness  of  their  rea- 
soning, the  empty  inflation  of  their  delivery,  and  the 
barrenness  of  their  thought,  prejudice  the  cause 
of  truth,  and  degrade  the  dignity  of  the  ministerial 
profession.  The  supply  must  be  inexhaustible  that 
will  admit  of  a  steady  stream  without  the  cistern 
being  emptied.  It  matters  not  how  often  you  draw, 
provided  you  keep  the  supply  good,  but  this  con- 
tinual drawing  without  ever  replenishing  must  pro- 
duce emptiness  and  disgusting  inanity. 

A  writer,  in  a  denomination  where  ministers  are 
generally  settled  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time,  accord- 
ing to  the  disposition  of  the  parties,  affirms,  "  that 
those  ministers  who  had  been  settled  longest  in  the 
same  charge,  and  had  longest  retained  their  hold 
upon  the  affections  of  their  people,  and  their  influ- 
ence over  the  public  mind,  were  generally  those  who 
had  been  most  sparing  in  the  number  of  their  public 
discourses ;"  and  (probably  the  writer  might  have 
added)  most  studious  in  the  preparation  of  those 
they  did  deliver.  The  amount  of  a  man's  usefulness, 
or  even  of  his  labor,  is  not  to  be  measured  by 
the  number  of  sermons  he  preaches,  but  by  their  in- 
fluence and  effect.  He  who  is  always  haranguing, 
and  never  preparing,  either  places  a  high  estimate 
upon  his  own  powers,  or  a  low  one  upon  the  truths 
he  is  called  to  deliver  and  the  intelligence  of  the 
people  who  are  invited  to  listen. 


£50  MENIAL   DISCIPLINE. 

SECTION*  XXVI. —  Write  out  a  discourse  frequently,  and 
occasionally  commit  jne  to  memory,  that  your  style  may  be 
improved,  and  your  memory  invitjorated. 

It  was  the  saying  of  Cicero,  than  whom,  perhaps,  no 
mortal,  either  of  past  ages  or  of  the  present,  knew 
better  how  eloquence  was  to  be  acquired,  or  how  to 
use  it  when  acquired, — "  The  pen  is  the  niothei  of 
eloquence."  A  man  who  is  not  accustomed  to  the 
discipline  of  writing,  on  some  great  and  momentous 
occasion,  when  great  interests  were  at  sUike,  and 
strong  passions  aroused,  under  the  excitement  and 
inspiration  of  the  occasion,  might  be  successful,  as 
was  Patrick  Henry,  in  a  few  bold  strokes  of  elo- 
quence. But  it  is  exceedingly  doubtful  whether  a 
public  speaker  can  maintain  a  uniform  character  of 
eloquence  without  the  constant  use  of  the  pen.  By 
this  the  power  of  thought  and  the  style  of  expression 
are  both  improved.  When  our  thoughts  are  retained 
till  they  can  be  sketched  on  paper,  the  mind  be- 
comes accustomed  to  take  hold  of  them  with  a  tena- 
cious grasp,  and  to  turn  them  over  and  over  without 
ever  losing  its  hold,  and  thus  it  not.  only  discovers 
and  retrenches  their  superfluities  and  deformities, 
but  acquires  a  mastery  over  them  that  can  be  ac- 
quired in  no  other  way. 

Mr.  Burder  says  that  composition  "  is  desirable, 
not  only  with  a  view  to  improvement  in  style,  but 
also  to  improvement  in  the  power  of  thought.  Such 
a  connection  exists  between  thinking  and  expressing 
thought,  that  to  attempt  the  latter  is  one  of  the  most 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      ZO.l 

effectual  methods  to  excel  in  the  former.  Frequent 
composition  has  a  powerful  tendency  to  secure  clear- 
ness in  our  conceptions,  as  well  as  precision  in  our 
language,  and  at  once  to  promote  fullness  of  illustra- 
tion and  compression  of  style.  It  will  be  the  most 
effective  preservative  from  that  loose  and  tedious 
style  of  expression,  by  which  some  speakers  employ 
a  profusion  of  words  to  convey  very  few  thoughts, 
and  exhaust  the  patience  of  their  hearers  by  a  dull 
prolixity  which  excludes  all  point,  vivacity,  and  con- 
densation. 

"If,  however,  composition  for  the  pulpit  be  at- 
tempted, it  should  be  the  result  of  energetic  thought 
and  the  strenuous  application  of  the  mind  to  the  sub- 
ject. Let  it  not  be  imagined  that  because  a  sermon 
is  written  it  must  therefore  be  superior  to  other  dis- 
courses, by  the  same  preacher,  which  have  not  been 
reduced  to  writing.  A  careless,  hurried  composition, 
will,  in  all  probability,  be  vapid,  dull,  and  spiritless, 
and  decidedly  inferior,  both  in  thought  and  language, 
to  a  sermon  of  which  the  outline  only  was  written, 
but  of  which  the  materials  for  illustration  were  se- 
iCCted  with  care,  though  not  committed  to  writing. 
The  latter  method  of  studying  for  the  pulpit  may 
indeed  be  practiced,  with  great  advantage,  conjointly 
with  the  plan  of  careful  composition.  And  while 
this  combination  of  plans  of  study  might  with  pro- 
priety be  recommended  as  eligible,  it  is  in  fact  the 
plan  to  which  ministers  must  often  have  recourse, 
from  necessity,  if  a  demand  be  made  upon  them  by 
theii  congregations  of  several  discourses  every  week 


252  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

By  carrying  on  both  methods,  and  by  writing  out  Jt 
least  one  sermon  with  care  every  week,  the  young 
preacher  may  be  making  progress  in  the  excellences 
of  a  style  best  adapted  for  the  pulpit;  while,  in  con- 
junctioi  with  this  effect,  he  may  be  acquiring  addi- 
tional fajilities  in  expressing  his  thoughts  with  fluen- 
cy, and  unpremeditated  language." 

The  extemporaneous  preacher  should  not  fail  to 
write  out  skeletons  of  his  discourses  weekly  ;  and  he 
will  often  find  it  greatly  to  his  advantage  to  write 
out  in  full  some  of  the  paragraphs  that  occur  to  him, 
containing  choice  gems  of  thought,  or  apposite  illus- 
trations and  reasonings.  But,  in  addition  to  all  this, 
he  should  frequently — say  once  a  month — write  out 
a  sermon  in  full,  with  due  reference  to  style  and  ex- 
pression. These  sermons  should  be  upon  his  choice 
themes,  and  imbody  his  choice  thoughts. 

That  committed  sermons  may  be  delivered  with 
all  the  pathos  and  effect  of  spontaneous  thought,  the 
French  pulpit — some  of  the  great  masters  of  which 
uniformly  wrote,  committed,  and  studied  the  delivery 
of  their  sermons — will  bear  witness ;  nay,  the  stage, 
where  the  freshness  and  vigor  of  original  life  are 
given  to  committed  thoughts  and  words,  gives  abun- 
dant proof.  Inability  thus  to  commit  a  written  dis- 
course, and  to  enter  into  the  spirit  of  the  subject,  at 
the  moment  of  delivery,  indicates  a  want  of  menthl 
discipline  that  can  be  acquired  in  no  other  way  than 
by  a  close  application  to  the  subject,  and  a  rigij 
practice  of  what  is  here  recommended. 

Nor  will  the  advantages  resulting  from  the  prac- 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.       253 

kice  recommended  in  this  section  terminate  with  the 
mere  exercise ;  it  will  re-act  upon  the  whole  intel- 
lectual character  ;  it  will  contribute  wonderfully  to 
the  mental  energy,  sharpen  the  acumen,  give  refine- 
ment to  the  taste,  and  stir  up  the  whole  intellectual 
man  to  renewed  activity ;  it  will  enlarge  the  views 
of  the  wide  field  of  pulpit  excellence,  give  intensity 
to  the  desire  for  improvement,  and  confidence  in 
effort  for  its  acquisition. 

SECTION  XXVII. — Keep  steadily  in  view  the  great  objects 
and  end  of  the  Christian  ministry. 

We  have  seen  that  unity  of  purpose  is  essential  to 
success  in  any  department  of  human  excellence, 
lint  with  reference  to  no  subject  is  this  more  strictly 
true  than  with  reference  to  the  Christian  ministry. 
"  The  true  end  of  the  ministry  is  edification  and 
holiness;"  and  he  who  keeps  this  end  steadily  in 
view,  and  concentrates  all  his  powers  upon  its  attain- 
ment, will  not  only  serve  his  God  better,  but  will 
find  that  the  direct  tendency  of  this  concentration 
of  his  energies  is  to  enlarge  and  perfect  his  powers 
as  a  pulpit  orator. 

No  man  can  be  penetrated  with  sublime  emotions, 
giving  rise  to  eloquent  thoughts,  unless  there  be  a 
forgetfulness  of  self.  "  Oblivion  of  self,"  says  a  mo- 
dern professor,  "  is  one  of  the  most  important  quali- 
fications for  success  in  the  sacred  office.  The  man 
\\ho  is  always  consulting  his  own  claims  to  public 
favor,  or  balancing  the  probabilities  of  loss  or  gain 
to  his  OAvn  reputation,  allows  too  many  considerations 


254  MENTAL    DISCIPhlXK. 

to  intervene  between  himself  and  the  end  proposed, 
and  is  too  irresolute  and  divided  in  his  purposes  to 
turn  even  the  powers  he  has  to  the  best  account. 
Unity  of  purpose,  simplicity  of  aim,  purity  of  inten- 
tion, and  earnestness  of  spirit,  are  far  more  favorable 
to  the  production  of  able  preaching  than  those  multi- 
form considerations  which  arise  from  any  views  of 
self-advantage.  These  attributes  give  concentration 
to  his  efforts.  Setting  before  him  the  object  to  be 
attained,  he  marches  directly  up  to  it." 

This  unity  of  aim  can  exist  only  in  connection 
with  a  sound  piety,  which  is  the  basis  of  all  evangeli- 
cal preaching,  and  the  grand  source  of  the  true 
eloquence  of  the  pulpit.  "  He  who  desires,  accord- 
ing to  St.  Paul,"  says  Erasmus,  "  to  be  <Jt<5orr«cof  j 
that  is,  a  properly  qualified  teacher  of  the  doctrine 
of  God,  must  take  heed  that  he  be  first  6cu<h6(iKro£, 
taught  of  God  himself."  He  who  keeps  the  objects 
and  end  of  the  ministry  steadily  in  view,  will  feel  the 
necessity  of  this  divine  teaching,  and  seek  to  pos- 
sess it. 

A  Christian  minister  justly  inspired  with  the  great 
objects  and  end  of  his  vocation,  will  have  no  occa- 
sion to  seek  for  any  extraneous  stimulus  for  the  full 
employment  of  his  powers.  "  Ah  !  what  more  can 
be  necessary,"  exclaims  the  pious  abbe  Maury,  "  in 
order  to  quicken  our  ardor?  Is  there  a  virtuous 
and  feeling  mind  that  can  despise  such  a  delightful 
reward  ? 

"  We  shall  have  fulfilled  the  end  of  our  vocation 
when  we  render  ourselves  useful  to  men ;  in  their 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      255 


we  shall  receive  an  indemnification  for  all 
our  sacrifices;  the  pleasing  remembrance  of  our 
youthful  labors  will  serve  to  delight  the  solitude 
and  to  console  the  inactivity  of  our  advanced  years; 
and  when  death  shall  lay  his  heavy  hand  upon  our 
eyelids,  we  shall  each  be  able  to  say  to  the  great 
God,  whose  laws  we  have  published,  '  O  my  Father  ! 
thou  hast  given  me  thy  children  to  instruct.  I  re- 
store them  to  thee  better.  Remember  all  the  bless- 
ings which  thou  hast  poured  upon  thy  people  through 
the  instrumentality  of  thy  ministering  servant  Let 
the  tears  which  I  have  dried  up,  the  tears  which  I 
have  excited  when  pleading  in  thy  name,  plead  with 
ihee  on  my  behalf.  I  have  been  the  instrument  of 
thy.  clemency,  make  me  hereafter  the  object  of  thy 
tender  mercy.'  " 

Worldly  and  professional  considerations  are  not 
wanting  to  excite  the  Christian  minister  to  the  at- 
tainment of  superior  excellence  ;  but  to  the  pious 
mind,  looking  forward  to  the  results  and  end  of  his 
course,  all  other  considerations  shrink  into  insignifi- 
cance when  compared  with  the  final  approbation  and 
favor  of  his  God.  "  Let  us  look,"  says  Benson,  "  only 
to  that  awful  world,  where,  as  the  strong  eloquence 
of  Chillingworth  has  uttered  the  thought,  if  we  shine 
not  beautifully  as  the  stars  of  God's  glory,  ice  shall 
glare  fearfully  as  the  firebrands  of  his  ivrathfor  ever" 

"  I  had  a  vision,"  said  the  venerable  Chrysostom  ; 
"1  thought  I  saw  the  communion  rails  crowded 
with  angels  listening  to  the  sermon.  When  a  man 
speaks  as  if  in  the  sight  of  God,  with  an  open  hea- 


£56  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

ven,  with  Christ  and  angels  before  him,  he  catches 
the  true  prophetic  fire  ;  he  preaches  a  present  salva- 
tion from  a  present  Saviour;  the  Spirit  of  glory  and 
grace  descends,  and  the  flame  communicates  to  his 
auditory,  and  accompanies  them  to  their  homes." 

SECTION   XXVIII. — Ever  preserve  a   moral  upightness 
and  independence  of  spirit  and  action. 

The  ancient  rhetoricians  uniformly  claimed  virtue 
as  an  essential  ingredient  in  the  character  of  the 
orator.  Quintilian  spends  the  first  chapter  of  his 
twelfth  book  in  proving  the  necessity  of  the  orator's 
being  a  good  man.  If  this  be  necessary  at  the  bar, 
in  the  forum,  and  before  popular  assemblies,  how 
much  more  necessary  to  the  production  of  genuine 
oratory  in  the  pulpit !  Mr.  Robinson  well  remarks, 
that  the  conclusion  of  Quintilian  "  is  enough  to  make 
the  Christian  minister  blush."  "Men  had  better  be 
born  dumb,  and  even  destitute  of  reason,  than  per- 
vert those  gifts  of  Providence  to  pernicious  pur- 
poses."* 

This  moral  uprightness  is  indispensable  for  two 
considerations.  First,  without  it  a  man  cannot  ex- 
pect to  receive  mental  illumination  through  the 
Holy  Ghost.  Secondly,  without  it,  his  discourses, 
however  logical  in  argument,  just  and  true  in  senti- 
ment, wanting  that  weight  and  force  that  a  pure  life 
would  give,  would  fall  powerless  to  the  ground. 

'  Multos  enim  nasci,  ct  egere  omni  ratione  satius  fuisset,  quain 
Providentiae  munere  in  mutuam  pemiciem  convertere.— «Jui»- 
Mian,  b.  xii,  c.  1. 


COMMUNICATION  OF  KNOWLEDGE.      257 

The  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  will  often  have  occa- 
sion to  bring  into  exercise  all  the  moral  independ 
enoe  he  may  possess.  Error  is  to  be  boldly  attack- 
ed, vice  rebuked,  and  the  self-denials  of  religion  to 
be  enforced  upon  all  classes.  This  moral  virtue  and 
independence  will  not  only  give  the  minister  favor 
in  the  eyes  of  the  people,  but  will  re-act  upon  his 
intellectual  character,  and  endow  him  with  a  bold- 
ness, a  power  of  speech,  that  could  not  otherwise  be 
obtained. 

In  order  to  the  full  possession  of  these  qualities, 
he  must  have  a  full  conviction  of  the  truth  and  living 
efficacy  of  that  gospel  he  preaches.  He  is  called  to 
defend  and  propagate,  not  a  mere  hypothesis — not 
a  mere  speculative  notion,  but  absolute  truth — truth 
that  has  the  sanction  of  Omnipotence — truth,  whose 
Jiving  efficacy  has  been  attested  by  unnumbered 
thousands — truth,  that  is  for  ever  susceptible  of  ex- 
perimental demonstration — truth,  that  is  identified 
with  human  weal  on  earth — and  truth,  that  involves 
the  everlasting  destinies  of  all  our  race.  This  truth 
must  have  laid  its'  foundations  deep  in  the  convic- 
tions of  his  own  understanding.  The  gospel,  to  him 
that  would  successfully  minister  at  its  holy  altars,  must 
not  be  a  mere  matter  of  speculation,  a  creature 
of  the  imagination,  a  baseless  sentimentalism.  But 
it  must  be  a  living  principle  in  the  soul.  Its  vital 
energy  must,  be  diffused  through  the  whole  intellect- 
ual and  moral  frame — claiming  the  full  assent  of  the 
reason,  swaying  all  the  passions  of  the  heart — im- 
pregnating and  purifying  all  the  moral  emotions,  so 
17 


253  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

that  he  may  preach  "  Christ  Jesus  not  with  enticing 
words  of  man's  wisdom,  but  in  demonstration  of  the 
Spirit  and  with  power."  He  must  be  able  to  say, — 
That  which  was  from  the  beginning,  which  we  have 
heard,  which  ice  have  seen  with  our  eyes,  which  we 
have  looked  upon,  and  our  hands  have  handled  of  the 
word  of  life,  that  declare  we  unto  you.  Without  this 
divine  ardor  of  conviction,  and  the  accompanying 
influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  most  eloquent  pulpit 
performance  is  but  "  as  sounding  brass  or  a  tinkling 
cymbal." 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL   CHARACTER.     2i  9 


PART  III. 

DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER  CON 
SfDERED  WITH  REFERENCE  TO  MENTAL 
DISCIPLINE  AND  EDUCATION  GENERALLY. 


SECTION  I. — Diversities  of  intellectual  character. 

DIVERSITIES. of  intellectual  character  are  every- 
where observable  among  men,  and  the  varieties 
seem  to  be  almost  endless.  Whether  there  be  any 
original  disparities  of  intellect,  or  whether  the 
existing  diversities  have  resulted  -wholly  from  in- 
cidental circumstances  and  habit,  is  a  question  that 
has  been  long  and  much  discussed.  A  definite 
conclusion  upon  it  is  perhaps  not  attainable,  and 
this  may,  in  part,  account  for  the  unsatisfactory 
results  of  the  discussions  that  have  been  had.  It 
may  however  be  received  as  an  unquestionable 
principle,  that  not  a  small  portion  of  the  existing 
diversity  may  be  referred  to  the  different  circum- 
stances and  accidents  by  which  the  characters  of  in- 
dividuals receive  special  tendencies  in  earlier  life, 
and  are  ever  afterward  more  or  less  affected. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  also  unquestionable  that 
facts,  as  well  as  the  analogy  of  things,  would  indicate 
that  there  may  be  natural  disparities  more  or  less 
marked  in  the  mental  character  of  men.  "  What 
are  the  original  disparities  in  their  capacities,"  says 
Dugald  Stewart,  "  it  is  impossible  for  us  to  ascertain ; 


2GO  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

but  from  the  analogy  of  the  body,  it  is  presumable 
that  such  disparities  exist  That  the  different  situ- 
ations into  which  men  are  thrown  by  the  accidents 
of  life  would  produce  great  diversities  in  their 
talents,  even  on  the  supposition  that  their  original 
capacities  were  the  same,  is  undoubtedly  true ;  but 
it  is  surely  pushing  the  conclusion  too  far  to  affirm, 
that  no  original  inequalities  exist,  when  no  proof  of 
the  fact  can  be  produced  of  such  an  assertion,  and 
when  so  strong  an  analogy  as  that  of  natural  dispari- 
ties among  men,  in  point  of  bodily  advantages,  leads 
to  an  opposite  opinion.  At  the  same  time  it  must  be 
acknowledged,  that,  supposing  the  minds  to  be  equal 
in  all  respects,  the  most  trifling  external  circum- 
stances may  create  between  them  the  most  important 
differences  in  the  result."  The  circumstances  that 
may  thus  affect  and  give  variety  to  mental  character 
are  absolutely  innumerable.  Even  the  bodily  form 
often  affects  the  character  and  style  of  our  thoughts) 
and  eventually  the  whole  mental  character.  Cicero 
says,  Ipsi  animi,  magni  refert,  quali  in  corpore  locati 
sint :  Multa  enim  e  corpore  existunt,  quo?  acuant  men- 
tern:  multa,  qu<E  obtundent.  Personal  beauty  some- 
times turns  the  heads  of  men  as  well  as  women  ;  and 
bodily  infirmity  is  often  a  spur  to  mental  activity. 
"  Whosoever  hath  anything  fixed  in  his  person,"  says 
Lord  Bacon,  "  that  doth  induce  contempt,  hath  also 
a  perpetual  spur  in  himself,  to  rescue  and  deliver 
himself  from  scorn."  The  effect  of  stature  upon 
menial  character  led  an  accurate  and  profound  ob- 
server to  remark,  that  "little  men  are  commonly 


DIVERSITIES   OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.    2G1 

decisive  and  oracular  in  their  opinions ;"  and  Dugald 
Stewart  asserts,  that  he  lias  little  doubt  of  the  "  re- 
ality of  the  fact" 

But  our  present  object  does  not  require  of  us, 
either  an  examination  of  the  original  disparities  of 
men,  or  an  investigation  of  the  causes  of  the  existing 
differences  of  character.  A\re  shall  therefore  avoid 
a  field  so  measureless ;  and  direct  our  inquiries  to 
these  differences,  as  they  exist. 

SECTION  II. — We  should  carefully  note  these  diversities,  and 
ascertain  the  class  of  intellect  to  which  we  belong. 

The  varieties  of  mental  character,  from  whatever 
causes  they  may  result,  often  require  different 
modes  of  training  and  discipline.  Hence  the  im- 
portance to  him  who  would  have  his  powers  proper- 
ly balanced  and  regulated,  of  carefully  discrimina- 
ting the  various  grades  of  intellectual  character,  and 
especially  of  determining  the  class  to  which  his  own 
mind  belongs,  that  he  may  choose  and  pursue  an 
appropriate  system  of  mental  discipline.  "  There 
is  no  stand  or  impediment,"  says  Lord  Bacon,  "  in 
the  wit,  but  may  be  wrought  out  by  fit  studies,  and, 
like  as  diseases  of  the  body,  may  have  appropriate 
exercises:  bowling  is  good  for  the  stone  and  reins; 
shooting  for  the  lungs  and  breast ;  gentle  walking 
f(..-r  the  stomach  ;  riding  for  the  head  and  the  like ; 
so  if  a  man's  wit  be  wandering,  let  him  study  the 
mat  hematics,  for  in  demonstrations,  if  his  wit  be 
-jailed  away  never  so  little,  he  must  begin  again ;  if 
ais  wit  be  not  apt  to  distinguish  or  find  differences, 


262  ME>7TAL  DISCIPLINE. 

let  him  study  the  schoolmen ;  if  he  be  not  apt  to 
beat  over  matters,  and  to  call  upon  one  thing  to 
prove  and  illustrate  another,  let  him  study  the  law- 
yer's cases :  so  every  defect  of  the  mind  may  have  a 
special  receipt." 

It  is  unquestionably  the  case  that  important  dif- 
ferences are  discernible  in  the  minds  of  children, 
even  in  very  early  infancy.  And  not  unfrequently 
strong  intellectual  tendencies  exist  long  before  the 
period  at  which,  it  is  generally  supposed,  intellectual 
education  commences.  Sometimes  also  a  certain 
cast  of  intellectual  character  may  seem  hereditary. 
"  One  race,  for  a  succession  of  generations,  is  dis- 
tinguished by  a  genius  for  the  abstract  sciences,  while 
it  is  deficient  in  vivacity,  in  imagination,  and  in 
taste :  another  is  no  less  distinguished  for  wit,  and 
gayety,  and  fancy,  while  it  appears  incapable  of  pa- 
tient attention,  or  of  profound  research."  Dugald 
Stewart  contends,  that  "  the  system  of  education 
which  is  proper  to  be  adopted  in  particular  cases, 
ought  to  have  some  reference  to  these  circumstances, 
and  to  be  calculated,  as  much  as  possible,  to  develop 
and  to  cherish  those  intellectual  and  active  princi- 
ples in  which  a  natural  deficiency  is  most  to  be  ap- 
prehended." He  further  asserts,  that  "  there  is  a 
foundation  in  philosophy  and  good  sense  for  accom- 
modating, at  a  very  early  period  of  life,  the  educa- 
tion of  individuals  to  those  particular  turns  of  mind, 
to  which,  from  hereditary  propensities,  or  from  rnor  il 
situation,  it  may  be  presumed  they  have  a  natural 
tendency."  Now  this  is  an  important  feature  in 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.    263 

which  the  systems  of  education  in  vogue  in  the 
present  age  are  remarkably  deficient.  Parents  on 
whom  this  work  necessarily  devolves,  are,  for  the 
most  part,  from  their  own  defective  education,  or 
from  want  of  habits  of  close  attention  and  discri- 
minating observation,  incompetent  to  its  execution. 
Hence  in  the  intellectual  education  of  children  and 
youth,  they  are  almost  universally  subjected  to  a 
general  intellectual  regimen,  without  the  slightest 
reference  to  their  natural  aptitudes  and  tendencies. 
This  defect,  every  one,  who  is  emulous  of  intel- 
lectual excellence,  must  remedy  as  best  he  may, 
after  he  has  become  capable  of  observation  and  re- 
flection upon  himself.  But  no  one  who  wishes  his 
plans  for  the  attainment  of  excellence  or  eminence 
to  be  securely  laid,  can  excuse  himself  from  the 
most  determined  effort  for  the  admeasurement  of 
his  powers  and  the  discovery  of  his  natural  aptitudes 
and  predilections. 

SECTION  III. — Classification  of  the  varieties  of  intellectual 
character  among  men. 

It  might  seem  to  the  casual  observer,  that  the  varie- 
ties of  mental  character  were  so  numerous  and  so 
complicated,  that  any  philosophical  classification  of 
them  would  be  impracticable.  And  perhaps  the 
only  method  by  which  such  classification  is  attain- 
able, is  by  noting  the  prevailing  character  of  our  in- 
tellections, and  the  manner  in  which  our  thoughts 
are  associated  together. 

Viewed  in  this  light,  all  the  varieties  of  intellectual 


264  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

character  may  be  comprehended  in  three  general 
classes,  namely,  the  philosophical,  the  "  matter  of 
fact "  or  circumstantial,  and  the  imaginative.  In  the 
fiist,  rejection  predominates ;  in  the  second,  obser- 
vation ;  and  in  the  third,  the  imagination.  The 
same  course  of  mental  discipline  would,  evidently, 
not  be  best  adapted  to  each  of  these  separate  and 
distinct  classes  of  intellect. 

These  three  classes  are  to  be  found  in  ever}'  state 
of  society ;  as  clearly  defined  and  as  strongly  marked, 
perhaps,  in  rude  and  savage  nations,  as  among  the 
civilized  and  refined. 

SECTION  IV. — T Ite  philosophical  mind. 

Minds  of  this  class  delight  in  tracing  out  the  analo- 
gies, causes,  and  effects  of  things,  and  the  knowledge 
they  acquire  is  a  knowledge  of  principles  rather 
than  things.  Of  isolated  facts,  such  as  dates,  names, 
and  persons,  they  retain  but  faint  recollections,  while 
the  associating  principles  of  their  memory  are  con- 
trast and  resemblance,  cause  and  effect.  But  while 
the  memory  is  sluggish  in  its  movement,  and  uncon- 
nected facts  easily  escape  from  it.  and  while  exter- 
nal objects  slightly  impress  the  imagination,  the 
ideas  actually  retained  are  comprehensive  and  or 
great  value.  Such  a  mind  will  thread  the  most  ob- 
scure analogies,  and  is  capable  of  mature  and  sound 
judgment,  but  it  lacks  vivacity.  It  can  analyze,  but 
not  describe.  It  can  develop  principles  and  syste- 
mize  the  general  formulas  of  a  science,  but  is  in« 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.       265 

expert  in  their  application.  In  a  word,  it  is  adapted 
to  th  our/he  rather  than  action. 

Habits  of  attention,  and  great  powers  of  abstrac- 
tion, are  strongly  marked  in  such  an  intellectual 
character.  Its  almost  irresistible  propension  is  to 
retirement  and  meditation,  and  it  often  predomi- 
nates to  such  an  extent  as  to  almost  unfit  its  subject 
for  the  ordinary  duties  of  life.  Hence  it  is  often 
seen,  that  persons  of  more  mind,  and  also  of  more 
just  and  comprehensive  views,  are  less  successful  in 
the  affairs  of  life,  and  move  with  less  effect  through 
the  world,  than  their  more  active  rivals.  Such,  it  is 
true,  is  the  class  of  mind  out  of  which  philosophers 
are  made ;  but  then,  comparatively  few  can  become 
philosophers  by  profession.  Its  mental  discipline 
should  be  such,  as  would  give  practical  activity  to 
the  current  of  its  abstract  speculation. 

But  the  question  very  naturally  arises  in  this  con- 
nection, whether,  when  an  individual  discovers  in 
early  life  some  strong  intellectual  bias,  he  should 
not  follow  the  direction  of  such  bias  ?  We  will  not 
say,  that,  when  such  tendency  seems  to  denote  great 
aptitude  for  any  particular  calling  or  profession,  the 
person  should  not  follow  such  calling.  But  it  is  to 
be  observed  that  these  extraordinary  gifts  or  pro- 
pensions  of  mind,  are  almost  always  accompanied  by 
a  correspondent  deficiency  in  some  other  of  the  in- 
tellectual faculties.  A  well-disciplined  mind  implies 
the  proportionate  development  and  discipline  of  all 
i.he  faculties.  Hence,  to  give  a  proportionate  de- 
velopment to  those  that  are  weak,  not  only  must 


2GG  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

they  be  nurtured,  but  the  strong  must  often  be  re* 
pressed.  A  sound  and  well-regulated  understand- 
ing can  be  formed  in  no  other  way,  and  without 
fuch  an  understanding  to  control  them,  the  most  de- 
sirable characteristics  may  degenerate  into  mere  ex- 
crescences upon  the  intellectual  character.  The  for- 
mation of  this  understanding  is  attended  with  so 
much  difficulty  and  doubt  in  few  other  cases,  as  in 
those  who  are  said,  in  ordinary  parlance,  to  "  have  a 
genius."  Says  Dugald  Stewart :  "  I  have  long  been 
disposed  to  consider  any  violent  and  exclusive  bias 
of  this  sort,  when  manifested  in  very  early  life,  as  a 
most  unfavorable  omen  of  the  future  vigor  and  com- 
prehension of  the  understanding,"  and  this  remark 
is  fully  verified  in  the  history  of  Zerah  Colburn  and 
other  cases  of  a  similar  description. 

SECTION   V. — The  "  matter  of  fact"  or   circumstantial 
mind 

This  class  of  mind  is  widely  distinct  from  the  former. 
It  is  conversant  mainly  with  matters  of  fact,  and  its 
associating  principle,  or  the  method  by  wliich  its 
ideas  and  trains  of  thought,  as  well  as  events  and 
objects,  are  connected  together  in  its  mind,  is  by 
iheir  accidental  nearness  in  time  or  place  to  some 
other  object  or  event.  Thus,  such  a  person  in  do- 
scribing  an  event  that  happened  to  themselves  or 
family,  will  often  tell  you  that  it  was  the  year  after 
such  an  eclipse,  or  famine,  or  war.  Touching  matters 
of  fact,  its  memory  is  remarkably  quick  and  decisive. 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL   CHARACTER.      267 

But  for  the  investigation  of  remote  analogies  and  the 
intricate  relations  of  cause  and  effect,  it  has  but  little 
taste,  and  as  little  adaptation.  It  is  minute  and  cri- 
tical in  narration,  detailing  incidental  particulars 
unconnected  with  the  case,  only  as  they  happened 
to  be  associated  by  some  contiguity  of  time  or  place. 
Shakspeare  affords  a  fine  illustration  of  this  in  the 
character  of  Mrs.  Quickly.  In  reminding  Falstafi 
of  his  marriage  engagement  with  her,  she  specifies  a 
great  variety  of  circumstances  incidental  to  the  en- 
gagement only  by  nearness  of  time  and  place. 
Thus  :— 

"  Falstajf. — What  is  the  gross  sum  that  I  owe 
thee  ? 

"  Hostess.-— blurry,  if  thou  wert  an  honest  man, 
thyself,  and  thy  money  too.  Thou  didst  swear  to 
me  on  a  parcel-gilt  goblet,  sitting  in  my  dolphin- 
thamber,  at  the  round  table,  by  a  sea-coal  fire,  on 
Wednesday  in  Whit-sun  week,  when  the  prince 
broke  thy  head  for  likening  him  to  a  singing  man  of 
Windsor,  thou  didst  swear  to  me  then,  as  I  was 
washing  thy  wound,  to  marry  me,  and  to  make  me 
my  lady,  thy  wife.  Canst  thou  deny  it  ?  Did  not 
Goodwife  Kuch,  the  butcher's  wife,  come  in  then, 
and  call  me  Gossip  Quickly  ?  coming  in  to  borrow  a 
mess  of  vinegar ;  telling  us  she  had  a  good  dish  of 
prawns ;  whereby  thou  didst  desire  to  eat  some ; 
whereby  I  told  thee  they  were  ill  for  a  green  wound. 
And  didst  not  thou,  when  she  was  gone  down  stairs, 
desire  me  to  be  no  more  so  familiar  with  such  poor 


268  MENTAL    DISCIPLINE. 

people,  saying,  that  ere  long  they  should  call  me, 
madam  ?  And  didst  thou  not  kiss  me,  and  bid  me 
fetch  the  thirty  shillings?  I  put  thee  now  to  thy 
book  oath,  deny  it,  if  thou  canst." — See  ShaJcspearc's 
Henry  IV. 

Lord  Ramos,  in  connection  with  the  above  illus- 
tration, remarks,  "  In  the  minds  of  some  persons, 
thoughts  and  circumstances  crowd  upon  each  other 
by  the  slightest  connections.  I  ascribe  this  to  a 
bluntness  in  the  discerning  faculty  ;  for  a  person  who 
cannot  accurately  distinguish  between  a  slight  con- 
nection and  one  that  is  more  intimate,  is  equally 
affected  by  each ;  such  a  person  must  necessarily 
have  a  great  flow  of  ideas,  because  they  are  intro- 
duced by  any  relation  indifferently ;  and  the  slighter 
relations  being  without  number,  furnish  ideas  with- 
out end.  On  the  other  hand,  a  man  of  accurate 
judgment  cannot  have  a  great  flow  of  ideas ;  because 
the  slighter  relations  making  no  figure  in  his  mind, 
have  no  power  to  introduce  ideas.  And  hence  it  is, 
that  accurate  judgment  is  not  friendly  to  declama- 
tion or  copious  eloquence.  This  reasoning  is  con- 
firmed by  experience ;  for  it  is  a  noted  observation, 
that  a  great  or  comprehensive  memory  is  seldom 
connected  with  a  good  judgment." 

Mr.  Upham  speaks  of  this  peculiarity  as  being  the 
characteristic  of  the  "  uneducated."  This,  however, 
is  by  no  means  the  case.  Many  who  are  "  educated," 
so  far  as  the  schools  of  learning  and  a  pursuit  of  the 
courses  of  study  comprised  in  a  liberal  education, 
tould  educate  them,  retain  this  characteristic  still ; 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.    2G9 

while,  on  the  other  hand,  men  "  uneducated"  in  the 
scnools,  possess  every  characteristic  of  the  philosophic 
mind.  This  of  itself  is  proof  that  education  is  often 
so  conducted  as  to  nurture,  instead  of  rectifying,  the 
peculiarities  of  mind.  In  this  class,  evidently,  the 
reflective  powers  are  disproportioned  in  strength 
and  development  to  the  active  powers.  This  dis- 
proportion may  be  maintained,  or  even  increased, 
through  the  most  extended  course  of  education. 
The  proper  discipline  of  such  a  mind,  then,  should 
have  a  direct  reference  to  the  development  of  the 
reflective  powers,  and  for  that  purpose,  it  should  be 
applied  early  to  such  studies  as  will  require  the  ex- 
ercise of  reason  and  reflection,  till  its  habits  are  well 
formed. 

The  mental  traits  characteristic  of  this  class  of 
mind  are  often  undervalued,  and  especially  by  stu- 
dents and  those  devoted  to  scientific  pursuits.  The 
general  impression  seems  to  be,  that  while  the 
"  matter-of-fact " — we  use  the  term  for  want  of  a 
better — mind  is  adapted  to  the  ordinary  manual  oc- 
cupations of  life,  the  "  philosophic  "  only  is  becoming 
the  man  of  letters.  Under  this  impression,  many, 
after  spending  years  in  the  vigorous  cultivation  of 
their  intellectual  powers,  have  departed  from  the 
schools  of  learning,  as  little  adapted  to  the  active 
duties  of  their  profession  as  the  infant  child.  They 
are  for  ever  quarrying  their  marble,  but  the  edifice 
— an  active  and  useful  life — never  goes  up.  The 
true  development  of  mind — that  which  should  be 
most  desired,  and  that  which  every  sound  system 


270  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

of  mental  discipline  seeks  to  produce — embraces 
both  the  philosophic  and  the  circumstantial,  and  that 
mental  capacity  which  combines  the  tAvo  in  suitable 
proportions  is  most  to  be  coveted  and  sought  after. 

SECTION  VI. — The  imaginative  mind. 

We  have  chosen  this  term  to  designate  that  class  of 
mind  in  which  the  imagination  predominates.  Mr. 
Stewart  designates  it  by  the  term  "  poet,"  intending, 
as  he  says,  to  "  comprehend  all  those  who  devote 
themselves  to  the  culture  of  the  arts  which  are  ad- 
dressed to  the  imagination ;  and  in  whose  minds,  it 
may  be  presumed,  imagination  has  acquired  a  more 
than  ordinary  sway  over  the  other  powers  of  the  un- 
derstanding." But  this,  by  no  means,  includes  all 
who  properly  belong  to  this  class.  There  are  thou- 
sands, who  are  constantly  engaged  in  the  practical 
callings  of  life,  whose  most  striking  mental  charac- 
teristic is  the  predominancy  of  their  imagination. 
They  are  neither  poets,  painters,  nor  sculptors — they 
know  the  fine  arts,  as  they  are  technically  called, 
hardly  by  name  ;  but  yet  their  imagination  gilds, 
with  colorings  of  its  own,  all  their  observations,  and 
also  overtops  reason  and  reflection. 

The  intellectual  character,  in  which  imagination 
predominates,  is  so  strikingly  distinct  from  the  phi- 
losophical and  the  "  matter-of-fact "  mind,  that  it  re- 
quires no  special  delineation.  "  The  culture  of  the 
imagination,"  says  Stewart,  "  does  not  diminish  our 
interest  in  human  life,  but  is  extremely  apt  to  in- 
spire the  mind  with  false  conceptions  of  it."  It  has 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.    271 

a  tendency  to  unduly  exalt  our  expectations,  and 
produce  enthusiastic  hope,  while  it  is  really  stirring 
up,  for  the  future,  disappointment  and  disgust. 
Hence,  perhaps,  results  that  thoughtlessness  and  im- 
providence with  respect  to  the  future,  and  that 
general  imprudence  in  the  conduct  of  life,  which  are 
so  characteristic  of  poets.  Horace,  in  his  Epistle 
to  Augustus,  represents  them  as  too  much  engrossed 
with  their  favorite  pursuits  to  think  of  anything  else. 


"  Vatis  avarus 

Non  temere  est  animus ;  versus  amat ;  hoc  studet  unum  ; 
Detrirnenta,  fugas  servorum,  incendia  ridet." 

The  observations  made  by  the  imaginative  mind 
are  extremely  liable  to  be  inaccurate  and  fallacious. 
Such  persons  dwell  in  an  ideal,  rather  than  real, 
world.  Hence  their  judgment,  in  reference  to  what 
have  been  termed  the  "  actualities  of  life,"  is  not  to 
be  depended  upon,  being  formed  more  with  refer- 
ence to  the  ideal  creations  of  the  imagination,  than 
to  the  real  nature  of  existing  facts.  Mr.  Stewart 
very  happily  illustrates  this  point : — "  When  a  man, 
under  the  habitual  influence  of  a  warm  imagination, 
is  obliged  to  mingle  occasionally  in  the  scenes  of  real 
business,  he  is  perpetually  in  danger  of  being  misled 
by  his  own  enthusiasm.  External  circumstances 
only  serve  as  hints  to  excite  his  own  thoughts,  and 
the  conduct  he  pursues,  has,  in  general,  far  less  re- 
ference to  his  real  situation,  than  to  some  imagi- 
nary one,  in  which  he  conceives  himself  to  be 
placed :  in  consequence  of  which,  while  he  appears 
to  himself  to  be  acting  with  the  most  perfect  wisdom 


272  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

and  consistency,  he  may  frequently  exhibit  to  otheis 
all  the  appearance  of  folly."  This  seems  to  have 
been  the  intellectual  peculiarity  in  the  character  of 
Konsseau,  as  drawn  in  the  "  Reflections  "  of  Madame 
de  Stael : — "  His  faculties  were  slow  in  their  opera- 
tion, but  his  heart  was  ardent :  it  was  in  conse- 
quence of  his  own  meditations  that  he  became  im- 
passioned :  he  discovered  no  sudden  emotions,  but 
all  his  feelings  grew  upon  reflection.  Sometimes 
he  would  part  with  you  with  all  his  former  affection  : 
but  if  an  expression  had  escaped  you,  which  might 
bear  an  unfavorable  construction,  he  would  recollect 
it,  examine  it,  exaggerate  it,  perhaps  dwell  upon  it 
for  a  month,  and  conclude  by  a  total  breach  with 
you.  A  word  or  gesture  furnished  him  with  matter 
of  profound  meditation  :  he  connected  the  most  tri- 
fling circumstances  like  so  many  mathematical  pro- 
positions, and  conceived  his  conclusions  to  be  sup- 
ported by  the  evidence  of  demonstration.  I  believe 
that  imagination  wa?  the  strongest  of  his  faculties,  and 
tliat  it  had  almost  absorbed  all  the  rest.  He  dreamed 
rather  than  existed,  and  the  events  of  his  life  might 
be  said,  more  properly,  to  have  passed  in  his  mind, 
than  without  him :  a  mode  of  being,  one  should  have 
thought,  that  ought  to  have  secured  him  from  dis- 
trust, as  il  prevented  him  from  observation  ;  but  the 
truth  was,  it  did  not  hinder  him  from  attempting  to 
observe  ;  it  only  rendered  his  observations  errcne- 
ous."  Who  can  doubt  but  that  a  proper  mental  dis- 
cipline might  have  given  a  truer  and  better  develop- 
ment to  such  a  mind ! 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.    273 

SECTION  VII. — Illustrations  of  this  suliject  from  Due/old 
Stewart. 

To  the  preceding  remarks,  we  subjoin  the  following 
illustrations  from  Dugald.  Stewart,  as  they  forcibly 
express  some  of  the  distinctions  we  have  attempted 
to  delineate,  and  withal  afford  many  practical  and 
useful  suggestions : — "  A  man  destitute  of  genius 
may,  with  a  little  effort,  treasure  up  in  his  memory 
a  number  of  particulars  in  chemistry,  or  natural 
history,  which  he  refers  to  no  principle,  and  from 
which  he  deduces  no  conclusion  ;  and  from  his  faci- 
lity in  acquiring  this  stock  of  information,  may  flat- 
ter himself  with  the  belief  that  he  possesses  a  natu- 
ral taste  for  these  branches  of  knowledge.  But  they 
whe  are  really  destined  to  extend  the  boundaries 
of  science,  when  they  first  enter  on  new  pursuits, 
feel  their  attention  distracted,  and  their  memory 
overloaded  with  facts  among  which  they  can  trace  no 
relation,  and  are  sometimes  apt  to  despair  entirely  of 
their  future  progress.  In  due  time,  however,  their 
superiority  appears,  and  arises  in  part  from  that  very 
dissatisfaction  which  they  at  first  experienced,  and 
which  does  notecase  to  stimulate  their  inquiries,  till 
they  are  enabled  to  trace,  amid  a  chaos  of  appa- 
rently unconnected  materials,  that  simplicity  and 
beauty  which  always  characterize  the  operations  of 
nature. 

"  There  are,  besides,  other  circumstances  which 
retard  the  progress  of  a  man  of  genius,  when  he  en- 
ters on  a  new  pursuit,  and  which  sometimes  render 
JL8 


274  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

him  apparently  inferior  to  those  who  are  possessed 
of  ordinary  capacity.  A  want  of  curiosity  (that  is, 
about  truth.  Dr.  Butler  says,  '  There  are  many  men 
Avho  have  a  strong  curiosity  to  know  what  is  said, 
who  have  little  or  no  curiosity  to  know  what  i» 
true ')  and  of  invention  facilitates  greatly  the  ac- 
quisition of  knowledge.  It  renders  the  mind  pas- 
sive in  receiving  the  ideas  of  others,  and  saves  all 
the  time  which  might  be  employed  in  examining  their 
foundation,  or  in  tracing  their  consequences.  They 
who  are  possessed  of  much  acuteness  and  originality 
enter  with  difficulty  into  the  views  of  others ;  not 
from  any  defect  in  their  power  of  apprehension,  but 
because  they  cannot  adopt  opinions  Avhich  they  have 
not  examined ;  and  because  their  attention  is  often 
seduced  by  their  own  speculations. 

"  It  is  not  merely  in  the  acquisition  of  knowledge 
that  a  man  of  genius  is  likely  to  find  himself  sur- 
passed by  others.  He  has  commonly  his  information 
much  less  at  command,  than  those  who  are  possessed 
of  an  inferior  degree  of  originality ;  and,  what  is 
somewhat  remarkable,  he  has  it  least  of  all  at  com- 
mand on  those  subjects  on  which  he  has  found  his 
invention  most  fertile.  Sir  Isaac  Newton  was  often 
at  a  loss,  when  the  conversation  turned  upon  his  own 
discoveries.  It  is  probable  that  they  made  but  a 
slight  impression  on  his  mind,  and  that  a  conscious- 
ness of  his  inventive  powers  prevented  him  from 
taking  such  pains  to  treasure  them  up  in  his  me- 
mory. Men  of  little  ingenuity  seldom  forget  the 
ideas  they  acquire ;  because  they  know  that  when 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.    275 

in  occasion  occurs  for  their  applying  their  know- 
ledge to  use,  they  must  trust  to  their  memory,  and 
not  to  invention. 

"  In  general,  I  believe,  it  may  be  laid  down  as  u 
rule,  that  those  who  carry  about  with  them  a  greit 
degree  of  acquired  information,  which  they  have  al- 
ways at  command,  or  who  have  rendered  their  own 
discoveries  so  familiar  to  them  as  always  to  be  in  a 
condition  to  explain  them,  without  recollection,  are 
very  seldom  possessed  of  much  invention,  or  even 
of  much  quickness  of  apprehension.  A  man  of  ori- 
ginal genius,  who  is  fond  of  exercising  his  reasoning 
powers  anew,  on  every  point  as  it  occurs  to  him, 
and  who  cannot  submit  to  rehearse  the  ideas  of 
others,  or  to  repeat  by  rote  the  conclusions  he  has 
deduced  from  previous  reflections,  often  appears,  to 
superficial  observers,  to  fall  below  the  level  of  ordi- 
nary understandings ;  while  another,  destitute  both 
of  quickness  and  invention,  is  admired  for  that 
promptitude  in  his  decisions  which  arises  from  the 
inferiority  of  his  intellectual  abilities. 

"  It  must  indeed  be  acknowledged  in  favor  of  the 
last  set  of  men,  that  they  form  the  most  agreeable 
and  perhaps  the  most  instructive  companions.  The 
conversation  of  men  of  genius  is  sometimes  ex- 
tremely limited  ;  and  is  interesting  to  the  few  alone, 
who  knoAV  the  value,  and  who  can  distinguish  the 
marks  of  originality." — Abridged  from  Stewart's 
Elements  of  the  Philosophy  of  the  Mind.  See  vol.  i, 
«h.  6,  §  8. 


276  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

SECTION  VIII. — Tlie.se  faculties  co-operate  together  and 
mutually  assist  each  other. 

It  will  not,  we  presume,  be  questioned  but  that  the 
ability  to  treasure  up  in  the  mind  and  also  to  make 
a  ready  use  of  such  particulars,  such  "  matters  of 
fact"  as  the  circumstantial  mind  is  conversant  with, 
would  be  of  essential  use  even  in  philosophic  pur- 
suits. If  we  have  need  of  proof,  the  constant  com- 
plaint of  men  of  speculative  minds  of  their  deficiency 
in  this  respect  would  be  abundant  evidence.  The 
mathematician,  the  natural  philosopher,  the  meta- 
physician, and  the  moralist,  have  all  felt  them- 
selves obstructed  in  the  prosecution  of  their  re- 
spective studies,  and  have  given  utterance  to  their 
complaints.  Montaigne,  the  philosophic  and  curi- 
ous author  of  various  speculative  essays,  while 
making  complaint  of  this  mental  defect,  questions 
whether,  if  he  lived  long,  he  "  should  be  able  to  re- 
collect his  own  name."  A  vivid  and  ready  recollec- 
tion, which  is  ever  associated  with  close  observation, 
is  of  incalculable  importance  to  him  who  would 
reason  effective} a .  Such  a  rpcollection  is  not  only 
indispensable  in  marshaling  the  details  of  argu- 
ment, but  an  exhaustless  magazine  from  which  il 
lustrations  and  arguments  are  drawn. 

Dr.  Beasley,  in  his  Search  of  Truth,  offers  the  fol- 
lowing suggestions  upon  the  co-operation  of  even 
mechanical  memory  with  the  reason,  and  the  per- 
fect compatibility  of  these  two  powers  with  each 
other: — "  The  reason,  therefore,  why  these  powers 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.      277 

of  reason  anil  memory  are  seldom  found  In  theit 
highest  perfection  united  in  the  same  person,  is,  that 
men  are  prone  to  exert  them  separately  and  dis- 
tinctly from  each  other,  and  in  undue  proportions 
By  this  means,  the  one  is  apt  to  be  cultivated  to  the 
total  exclusion,  or  but  partial  exercise,  of  the  other. 
I  do  not  mean  to  assert,  indeed,  that  there  may  not, 
in  our  original  structure,  be  communicated  to  us 
one  of  these  faculties  in  great  vigor,  while  we  are 
left  entirely  destitute,  or  but  in  a  slight  degree  pos- 
sessed, of  the  other.  But  a  great  deal,  also,  depends 
upon  the  proper  culture  of  the  mind,  whether  the 
one  shall  gain  the  pre-eminence,  or  all  shall  be  alike- 
nurtured  and  invigorated.  Nothing  can  be  more 
false  than  that  sentiment,  so  frequently  recurred  to 
in  society,  that  deep  erudition,  and  the  study  of  the 
most  finished  models,  are  calculated  to  repress  ge- 
nius, and  shackle  the  inventive  powers.  Little 
minds  only  are  encumbered  with  the  weight  of 
learning,  but  to  really  good  ones  it  becomes  their 
sus'entation. 

"  Science  and  learning  furnish  the  literary  artifi- 
cer with  more  copious  materials,  out  of  which  to  form 
his  structures,  and  his  skill  will  be  displayed  in  the 
selection  of  his  materials,  and  the  execution  of  his 
work.  Can  it  ever  be  of  disadvantage  to  any  one 
to  have  a  large  stock  of  precious  materials  on  hand, 
save  to  those  who  have  not  address  and  ingenuity 
enough  to  apply  them  to  practical  purposes,  and  on 
(his  account  allow  them  to  rot  and  perish  in  theil 
possession  ?  To  the  man  of  true  genius,  every 


278  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

scrap  of  information  he  obtains  is  of  real  service,  ana 
the  largest  accumulations  remain  entirely  at  his  dis- 
posal. 

"  The  great  art  in  education,  as  I  conceive,  con- 
sists in  the  contemporaneous  cultivation  of  all  the 
powers  of  the  mind,  and  that,  too,  in  a  just  propor- 
tion to  their  importance  and  dignity.  As  reason  is, 
indisputably,  the  noblest  prerogative  of  our  nature, 
the  earliest  and  most  solicitous  attention  should  be 
devoted  to  its  improvement.  Afterward,  in  due  or* 
der,  should  be  cultivated  the  memory  and  imagina- 
tion, which  may  be  regarded  as  the  hand-maids  of 
reason.  The  one  supplies  it  with  the  lessons  of  past 
experience  and  observation,  and  the  other  gives  its 
embellishments  to  the  structures  it  has  reared."  Mr. 
Ranch  also,  in  his  Psychology,  urges  that  "  the  me- 
chanical memory  ought  to  be  much  exercised  ;  for  by 
it  the  judgment  will  gain  materials  for  its  reason- 
ing ; — judgmen'  and  memory — the  spontaneous  and 
receptive  activ/ties — ought,  therefore,  to  be  exercised 
in  an  equal  degree  ;  and  neither  at  the  expense  of 
the  other." 

"  The  prominent  marks  of  a  good  memory."  says 
Professor  Upham,  "are  two,  namely:  (1)  Tenacity 
in  retaining  ideas  ;  (2)  Readiness  in  bringing  them 
forward  on  necessary  occasions."  The  same  author 
intimates  that  in  respect  to  this  second  mark,  men 
of  philosophic  minds  are  more  likely  to  be  deficient, 
as  "  they  pay  no  attention  to  particular  facts,  ex- 
cept for  the  purpose  of  deducing  from  them  general 
principles."  But  he  also  affirms,  "  that  when  this  c 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.    279 

want  of  readiness  is  such  as  to  cause  a  considerable 
degree  of  perplexity,  it  must  be  regarded  as  a  great 
menial  defect."  How  different  is  this  from  the  idea 
that  the  high  road  to  mental  excellence  is  the  exclu- 
sive cultivation  of  the  speculative  powers ;  and  that 
that  mind  has  attained  the  highest  summit  of  mental 
discipline  whose  treasury  is  richest  in  general  ab- 
stractions, and  freest  from  particular  or  isolated 
facts !  A  greater  error  can  hardly  be  imagined  ; 
and  yet  it  is  an  error  with  which  those  who  are  just 
entering  upon  the  studies  of  a  liberal  education  are 
exceedingly  liable  to  be  captivated.  Dr.  Beasley, 
after  referring  to  the  statement  of  Locke,  that  "  the 
celebrated  Pascal,  until  the  decay  of  his  health  had 
impaired  his  memory,  forgot  nothing  of  what  he  had 
done,  read,  or  thought,  in  any  part  of  his  rational 
age,"  exclaims :  "  Such  a  memory,  as  far  as  it  is  to 
be  acquired,  is  worthy  of  our  most  assiduous  exertions 
to  acquire  it.  By  means  of  this  it  is,  that  the  philoso- 
pher treasures  up  those  maxims  of  science  that  lead 
him  on  from  investigation  to  investigation,  and  from 
one  discovery  to  another ;  that  the  poet  retains 
for  the  delight  of  mankind." 

With  regard  to  the  imagination,  we  are  too 
apt  to  consider  it  as  merely  a  source  of  pleasure, 
and  not  of  utility.  Mr.  Stewart  says :  "  This 
faculty  is  the  great  spring  of  human  activity,  and 
the  principal  source  of  human  improvement. . . . 
Destroy  this  faculty,  and  the  condition  of  man  will 
become  as  stationary  as  that  of  the  brutes."  But 
this  is  not  all.  As  an  intellectual  faculty,  the  ima- 


280  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

gination  co-operates  with  our  other  faculties  in  en- 
larging the  sphere  of  human  knowledge.  To  what 
are  we  indebted  for  the  origin  and  use  of  language, 
that  wonderful  vehicle  and  instrument  of  thought, 
but  to  the  imagination  ?  In  fact,  there  is  not  a  single 
process  of  thought  that  may  not  be  quickened  by  its 
impulse  :  perception  is  stimulated  ;  and  even  scien- 
tific research  is  whet  to  a  keener  edge  by  it.  The 
field  of  poesy  and  of  the  fine  arts  by  no  means  sets 
limits  to  the  utility  of  the  imagination.  D'Alembert 
has  intimated  that  the  imagination  is  called  into  use 
even  in  the  study  of  mathematics,  and  lends  essen- 
tial aid  even  in  the  processes  of  geometry.  It  is  an 
indispensable  auxiliary  to  the  reasoning  power ;  it 
stimulates  the  other  intellectual  powers  employed  ; 
it  quickens  the  associating  principle,  so  that  thoughts 
and  trains  of  thoughts  are  placed  Avithin  its  control 
that  would  not  otherwise  have  been  reached.  A  few 
remarks  from  Professor  Upham  must  satisfy  us  upon 
this  point: — "  There  is  one  important  point  of  view, 
in  which  the  utility  of  the  imagination  is  capable  of 
being  considered  :  that  of  the  relation  of  the  imagi- 
nation to  the  other  intellectual  powers.  And, 
amonoj  other  things,  there  is  obviously  ground  for 
the  remark,  that  a  vigorous  and  well-disciplined 
imagination  may  be  made  subservient  to  prompt- 
ness, and  clearness,  and  success,  in  reasoning. . . . 
We  may  go  further,  and  even  venture  to  assert,  that 
there  is  no  form  of  literature  whatever  which  does 
not  require  the  aid  of  the  imagination  It  is  an  er- 
roneous notion,  that  would  limit  its  exercise  to  the 


DIVERSITIES  OP  MENTAL  CHARACTER.      281 

fine  arts;  it  is  essential  to  the  reasoner  and  orator; 
and,  we  may  add,  it  is  essential  to  the  historian  also  * 

SECTION  IX. — Temperaments — Their  influence  upon  intel 
factual  character — Remarks  cf  Rauch. 

The  term  temperament  is  used  to  express  a  perma- 
nent predisposition  to  some  particular  passion,  or 
kind  of  sentimental  excitement,  which  may  com- 
monly be  discovered  in  every  individual.  Dr.  Rauch 
supposes  the  temperament  to  result  from  "  the  pecu- 
liar connection  of  soul  and  body  in  an  individual. 
This  connection,"  continues  he,  "  becomes  peculiar 
by  the  prevailing  fluids  of  the  body,  their  lymphatic, 
sanguine,  choleric,  and  bilious  nature ;  by  the  pre- 
vailing elements,  as  water,  air,  fire,  or  earth ;  by  the 
nature  of  the  blood,  which  is  either  cold  or  warm, 
light  or  heavy ;  by  that  of  the  fibres,  which  are 
either  lax  or  firm,  soft  or  hard.  All  these  must  affect 
our  feeling,  this  our  thinking,  and  this  again  our 
will." 

"  We  haveybur  different  temperaments  :  the  san- 
guine stands  connected  with  the  system  of  sensibility ; 
the  melancholic  with  that  of  reproductiveness ;  while 
the  system  of  irritability,  by  its  twofold  relation  to 
the  arterial  and  venous  blood,  produces  the  choleric 
temperament  when  the  arterial,  and  the  phlegmatic 
when  the  venous,  blood  prevails.  The  temperaments 
do  not  directly  originate  in  the  individual ;  but  in 
circumstances  preceding  its  existence,  in  climate, 
locality,  in  the  season  of  its  birth,  &c.  Hence  many 
feel  inclined  to  consider  them  as  accidental.  Every 


282  MENTAL   DISCIPLINE. 

man,  say  they,  must  have  a  temperament,  but  which 
of  the  four  seems  to  be  wholly  accidental.  So  every 
man  must  have  eyes,  but  whether  they  are  blue  or 
black  is  accidental.  Though  it  maj  be  accidental, 
whether  a  man  is  born  with  the  choleric  or  melan- 
cholic temperament,  he  will  retain  it  through  life ; 
and  though  the  phlegmatic  may  modify  his  tempera- 
ment by  change  of  climate,  by  food,  and  drink,  he 
cannot  change  it  into  the  sanguine.  Yet,  while 
none  can  change  his  temperament,  he  may  subdue 
it,  and  exercise  it  as  he  pleases. 

"  The  sanguine  temperament  is  the  temperament 
of  enjoyment  and  pleasure.  It  partakes  of  the  nature 
of  the  air,  which,  by  its  great  elasticity,  yields  to 
every  pressure,  and  directly  afterward  regains  its 
former  state.  Persons  who  possess  it-  incline  strongly 
to  Belles  Lettres,  but  prefer  the  brilliant,  the  plea- 
sant, and  the  copious,  to  the  more  solid,  the  truly 
beautiful  and  simple.  The  choleric  may  be  called 
the  temperament  of  action.  Its  bent  is  to  practical 
pursuits  ;  it  is  quick  of  understanding,  acute  in  judg- 
ment, clear  and  precise  in  its  expressions,  and  its 
productions  in  the  arts  are  manifold  and  expressive. 
The  melancholic  temperament  is  characterized  by  a 
constant  longing  and  desire,  and  an  inclination  to  re- 
tire or  withdraw  itself.  It  delights  to  live  in  the 
regions  of  truth,  of  beauty,  of  the  sublime,  and  of  the 
romantic.  In  science  it  is  deep,  and  inclined  to 
skeptical  researches;  in  art,  it  aims  at  expression. 
In  the  phlegmatic  temperament,  yelf-posae.^icn  pre- 
vails, which  does  not  suffer  itself  to  be  carried  a\vaj 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.      28S 

by  external  impressions,  nor  does  it  permit  any  of 
the  one-sided  characteristics  of  the  previous  tempera* 
ment  to  reign,  but  retains  its  full  dominion  over  all 
the  influences  exerted  upon  it,  and  over  all  its  re- 
actions. 

"  The  phlegmatic  temperament  has  frequently 
been  wronged,  and  looked  on  as  inferior  to  the 
others,  because  its  features  are  not  so  striking ;  and 
yet  this  alone  renders  it  easy  to  man  to  preserve  to 
himself  his  liberty,  and  to  move,  without  prejudice 
and  predetermination,  in  whatever  direction  of 
science  or  art  he  chooses.  Its  seeming  inactivity  and 
rest  is  not  without  activity  and  deep  interest;  but. 
like  the  lake,  the  waters  of  which  seem  motionless 
on  the  surface,  while  rivulets  and  fresh  waters  are 
constantly  flowing  in,  and,  though  unseen,  keep  up 
a  gentle  but  lively  and  healthy  activity,  so  this  is 
always  devoted  to  some  action,  without  much  dis- 
play. Its  talents  are  highly  respectable,  its  ideas 
deep  and  clear,  its  style  rather  dry,  but  profound 
and  accurate. 

"  Aristotle  asserted  that  the  melancholy  tempera- 
ment was  most  favorable  to  science  and  art.  He 
quotes,  among  the  rest,  Socrates,  of  whom  Plato 
says,  that  in  the  midst  of  the  noise  of  an  encamp- 
ment, he  fell  into  a  deep  meditation,  and  stood  im- 
movable in  one  place,  from  one  morning  to  another, 
until  the  rising  sun  aroused  him,  to  offer  his  prayer. 
Empedoeles,  Plato,  Homer,  Phidias,  Dante,  Raphael, 
Handel,  and  other  distinguished  scholars,  had  the 
same  temperament.  Yet  it  is  the  will  that  reigns  in 


'J84  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

man,  and  not  the  temperament;  the  foi mer,  and  not 
the  latter,  forms  the  character:  nor  does  talent  and 
genius  depend  on  it.  Moses  and  Paul  were  choleric, 
Oberlin  was  sanguine,  and  the  celebrated  Rem- 
brandt phlegmatic.  One  temperament  will  make  it 
more  easy  than  another  to  lead  a  life  according  to 
determined  principles,  or  to  enter  on  some  scientific 
or  practical  pursuit.  The  choleric,  for  instance,  is 
favorable  to  practical  business,  for  it  is  the  tempera- 
ment of  action ;  the  sanguine  to  Belles  Lettres,  for 
it  is  that  of  enjoyment;  the  melancholy  to  deep 
speculations,  for  it  is  that  of  desire  ;  and  the  phleg- 
matic to  thorough  and  universal  learning,  for  it  is 
that  of  self-possession  and  patience." 

The  above  observations  will  suggest  to  him  who  is 
ambitious  of  mental  excellence  that  the  careful  study 
of  his  own  temperament,  and  its  natural  tendency, 
will  not  be  without  its  practical  use.  And,  at  the 
same  time,  if  the  views  here  submitted  be  sound, 
they  assure  us  that  temperaments,  contrary  to  what 
many  have  supposed,  furnish  no  gaug*  for  the  ad- 
measurement of  the  intellectual  capacity,  and  indeed 
set  no  bound  to  limit  the  acquisitions  of  mind.  De- 
termination in  the  will,  will  overcome  the  impedi- 
ments thrown  in  our  way  by  the  most  unfavorable 
temperament ;  and,  without  this,  the  richest  endow- 
ments which  the  temperament  can  bestow  can  never 
produce  the  well-disciplined  mind,  essential  to  the 
ripe  scholar,  the  profound  philosopher,  the  sagacious 
statesman,  the  accomplished  orator,  or  even  the 
energetic  and  successful  man  of  business 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.      285 

SECTION  X. — Nbm  omnes  omnia  possumus. 

We  are  not  all  able  to  accomplish  all  things." 
Few  men  possess  the  character  of  universal  genius. 
And  perhaps  the  number  is  equally  small  that  might 
not  excel  in  some  one  sphere  of  action.  Clavius, 
when  a  boy,  was  noted  for  nothing  but  his  stupidity. 
His  teachers  could  do  nothing  with  him,  till  at  length 
one  of  them  tried  him  in  geometry ;  this  kindled 
the  latent  spark,  awoke  his  sleeping  genius,  and  the 
almost  hopelessly  stupid  b«y  became  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  mathematicians  of  the  age.  The  cele- 
brated Boyle,  after  giving  credit  to  his  tutor  for  his 
instructions  in  the  Roman  tongue,  confesses  that 
during  his  travels,  through  neglect,  he  forgot  much 
that  he  had  acquired,  and  never  afterward  could 
find  time  to  redeem  his  losses.  From  this  we  infer 
that  the  natural  bent  of  his  mind  was  not  strongly 
inclined  to  classical  studies,  else  he  who  found  time 
to  achieve  all  he  attempted  would  have  found  time 
for  this  also. 

Where  there  is  a  constitutional  unfitness  for  any 
sphere  of  action,  it  were  worse  than  useless  for  the 
individual  to  enter  upon  it.  He. may  strive  to  over- 
come his  impediment,  to  rise  in  his  profession,  to 
develop  the  requisite  energy,  but  even  the  earnest- 
ness and  perseverance  of  his  exertion  cannot  save 
him  from  failure  and  disappointment.  When  the 
viscount  of  Dundee,  the  famous  Claverhouse  of  Old 
Mortality,  whose  name  Scott  has  rendered  immortal, 
comman  Jed  the  Scotch  insurgents,  the  son  of  one  of 


286  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

his  intimate  friends  joined  them.  A  skirmish  shortly 
after  ensued,  and  the  new  recrnit  fled.  Dundee 
saved  him  from  disgrace  by  pretending  that  lie  had 
sent  him  with  orders  into  the  rear.  He  then  told 
him  in  private  that  he  had  entered  a  service  for 
which  it  was  his  misfortune  to  be  constitutionally 
unfit.  He  advised  him  to  leave  the  army,  offering 
to  furnish  an  honorable  excuse  for  so  doing.  The 
young  man,  with  a  sense  of  the  deepest  shame, 
threw  himself  at  the  feet  of  the  general,  and  pro- 
tested that  his  failure  in  duty  was  only  the  effect  of 
a  momentary  weakness,  the  recollection  of  which 
should  be  effaced  by  his  future  good  conduct,  and 
entreated  Dundee,  by  the  love  he  bore  his  father,  to 
give  him  a  chance  at  least  of  regaining  his  reputa- 
tion. The  general  still  endeavored  to  dissuade  him 
from  remaining  with  the  army ;  but  as  he  continued 
urgent  to  be  admitted  to  a  second  trial,  he  reluc- 
tantly gave  way  to  his  request.  "  But  remember," 
said  the  old  general,  "  if  your  heart  fail  you  a  second 
time,  you  must  die.  The  cause  I  am  engaged  in  is 
a  desperate  one,  and  I  can  expect  no  man  to  serve 
under  me  who  is  not  prepared  to  fight  it  out  to  the 
last.  Aly  own  life,  and  all  those  who  serve  under 
me,  are  unsparingly  devoted  to  the  cause  of  King 
James;  and  death  must  be  his  lot  who  shows  an  ex- 
ample of  cowardice."  The  young  man  embraced 
the  stern  proposal  with  eagerness.  But  in  the  very 
next  skirmish  in  which  he  was  engaged,  his  constitu- 
tional timidity  overcame  him ;  he  turned  his  horse 
to  fly,  when  Dundee,  coming  up  to  him,  only  said. 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.      28', 

*  The  son  of  your  father  is  too  good  a  man  to  be 
consigned  to  the  provost-marshall,"  and,  without  an- 
other word,   shot  him  through  the   head  with  his 
pistol,  with  a  sternness  and  inflexibility  resembling 
the  stoicism  of  "the  old  Romans. 

No  system  of  education  or  of  training  can  supply 
the  want  of  constitutional  ability  or  adaptation. 
Quintilian  was  accustomed  to  say,  that  "  the  remedy 
for  luxuriance  was  easy ;  but  barren  soils  are  over- 
come by  no  labor."*  Even  the  best  system  of  edu- 
cation, when  employed  upon  such  persons,  will  only 
serve  to  render  their  natural  deficiency  more  ap- 
parent. Art  can  never  supply  nature's  lack ;  much 
less  can  it  be  successful  when  employed  in  opposition 
to  nature.  An  ancient  fable  teaches  a  significant 
moral :  "  A  mole,  having  consulted  many  oculists 
for  the  benefit  of  his  sight,  was  at  last  provided  with 
a  good  pair  of  spectacles  ;  but,  upon  his  endeavoring 
to  make  use  of  them,  his  mother  told  him,  that  though 
they  might  help  the  eye  of  a  man,  they  could  be  of 
no  use  to  a  mole."  Innumerable  cases  occur  thai 
cannot  fail  to  remind  us  of  the  mole  with  hif 
spectacles. 

SECTION  XI. — Application  of  preceding  principles  to  tfn 
discipline  of  mind. 

The  above  principles,  we  think,  fully  demonstrate 
the  importance  of  a  careful  discrimination  of  OUT 
mental  susceptibilities,  and  a  well-directed,  energetic 
training  of  them,  in  order  to  the  full  development  of 

•  Facile  remedium  est  ubertatls  ,  sterilia  ruillo  labors  vhicuntur. 


288  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

our  intellectual  character.  They  show  that  man 
must  be  educated,  in  the  legitimate  sense  of  that  word, 
or  the  full  development  of  his  powers  will  no*  be 
realized. 

The  sphere  of  instinct  is  uniform  and  invariable  , 
its  development  is  spontaneous  and  perfect,  so  far  as 
we  can  observe.  Hence  the  animal  creation  require 
no  tutelage ;  whatever  powers  of  instinct  are  possess- 
ed by  any  individual  of  a  species,  are  possessed  by 
every  individual  of  that  species,  and  in  nearly  equal 
degrees.  This  power  requires  no  cultivation  to 
bring  it  to  maturity,  nor  will  any  cultivation  carry 
it,  in  anything  essential,  to  any  higher  state  of  per- 
fection. The  crocodile,  true  to  the  mysteriously  im- 
planted instincts  of  his  nature,  seeks  the  water  as 
soon  as  he  bursts  from  his  shell ;  "  the  new-born  liz- 
ard, or  worm,  or  fly,  is  presently  invested  with  the 
ancient  habits  of  his  race;"  the  birds  of  passage, 
without  instruction,  commence  at  the  appointed  time 
their  migratory  flight ;  the  "  military  tactics  of  the 
baboon,"  so  surprisingly  well  adapted  and  so  Avonder- 
fully  exact,  are  nature's  untutored  impulses,  nor 
would  the  prospect  of  either  life  or  death  tempt  him 
to  deviate  in  the  least  from  the  beaten  track ;  the 
beo,  born  to-day,  is  just  as  skillful  an  architect  and 
just  as  profound  a  geometrician  as  he  will  be  after 
the  longest  possible  age  and  experience,  nor  are  the 
present  generation  of  his  race  wiser  than  were  those 
of  a  thousand  generations  preceding.  All  these  re- 
quire no  training,  because  the  instinct  that  leads 
them  along  is  susceptible  of  no  improvement 


DIVERSITIES  OP  MENTAL  CHARACTER.      289 

Widely  different  from  this  is  mind,  as  contra-dis- 
tinguished from  instinct.  It  is  developed  only  by 
cultivation,  and  multitudinous  are  the  degrees  of  its 
development  in  different  individuals,  as  well  as  the 
peculiarities  of  its  manifestation.  Every  bee  is  an 
architect,  but  few  men  can  acquire  architectural 
skill ;  every  insect  possesses  the  philosophy  of  in- 
stinct, but  comparatively  few  men  the  philosophy  of 
reason.  Providence  has,  indeed,  ordained  a  primary 
training  for  the  children  of  men.  We  see  this  in  the 
development  of  the  powers  of  sensation  and  percep- 
tion almost  necessarily  resulting  from  our  relations 
to  the  material  world,  and  with  comparatively  little 
voluntary  exertion  on  our  part. 

Let  us  refer  to  intelligent  sight,  as  an  instance  of 
this  primary  training  to  which  man  is  subjected  by 
the  benign  Providence  which  watches  over  us.  How 
unmindful  are  many  of  the  fact,  that  the  power  of 
intelligent  sight,  that  is,  of  being  able  to  judge  of  the 
dimensions,  form,  distances,  &c.,  of  objects,  is  an  ac- 
quired faculty,  the  result  of  education,  and  not  an 
original  power !  It  is  said  that  Casper  Hauser,  when 
first  delivered  from  the  dark  dungeon  in  which  he 
had  been  immured  from  earliest  childhood,  had  the 
most  confused  and  indistinct  notions  of  objects  of 
sight.  The  beautiful  prospect  seen  from  his  window, 
to  his  untutored  sense,  seemed  only  paint  daub- 
ings  upon  the  window.  Experience,  however,  soon 
discovered  to  him  the  true  relations  of  things.  So 
does  every  one,  by  insensible  degrees,  acquire  the 
power  of  intelligent  sight  The  same  is  true  of  our 
19 


290  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

other  senses.  How  wonderful  those  allotments,  so 
well  calculated,  in  their  every  aspect,  to  bring  about 
the  incipient  development  of  our  intellectual  no  less 
than  our  physical  nature  ! 

But  we  have  had  more  special  reference  to  that 
I  igher  or  more  advanced  intellectual  training,  which 
is  almost  exclusively  voluntary,  that  is,  premeditated, 
determined,  and  prosecuted,  not  so  much  from  any 
necessity  of  our  nature  or  the  constitution  of  things 
in  the  natural  and  moral  world,  as  from  the  deter- 
mination of  the  reason  and  judgment.  It  is  here  in 
the  more  intellectual  parts  of  our  education  or  dis- 
cipline that  our  selection  of  subjects  of  contempla- 
tion and  study  is  more  entirely  voluntary.  Hence 
the  diversity  of  select  subjects,  each  giving  peculi- 
arity to  the  development  of  intellect;  or  rather, 
perhaps,  we  should  say,  each  selected  from  some  pe- 
culiarity of  inclination,  adaptation,  or  power,  and  in 
its  turn  tending  to  render  that  particularity  more 
particular. 

We  are  far  from  asserting,  however,  that  all  mind 
is  susceptible  of  the  same  degree  and  kind  of  de- 
velopment ;  or  even  that  such  a  result  would  be  de- 
sirable if  it  lay  within  the  range  of  possibility 
We  should  as  soon  think  of  reducing  the  face  of  na- 
ture to  one  dull  and  tiresome  uniformity;  of  meting 
out  the  ocean  with  the  same  measure ;  of  graduating 
the  mountains  to  the  same  height  and  slope;  of 
making  the  floweret  bloom  with  uniform  beauty  and 
fragrance,  and  the  forest  stand  with  uniform  growth. 
We  should  as  soon  think  of  bringing  all  men  to  the 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL    CHARACTER.      291 

same  bodily  stature,  the  same  craniological  confor- 
mation, the  same  development  of  parts,  equal  per- 
fection of  limb,  flexibility  of  joint,  suppleness  of 
muscle,  or  strength  and  agility  of  frame.  We  should 
as  soon  think  of  obtaining  uniform  development  of 
th3  organs  of  sense,  as  of  the  powers  of  intellect 
Diversity,  no  less  than  uniformity,  comes  within  the 
scope  of  nature's  plan  of  operations.  We  cannot 
avoid  it,  if  we  would,  in  the  development  of  mind 
any  more  than  in  anything  else ;  nor  would  it  be  de 
sirable  to  avoid  it,  if  we  could. 

Has  God  bestowed  upon  an  individual  some  par- 
ticular genius  ?  it  is  one  of  the  plainest  dictates  of 
reason  that  that  genius  should  have  special  cultiva- 
tion. To  thwart  that  bent  of  genius  is  to  oppose 
both  providence  and  nature.  To  give  to  it  sole  at- 
tention would  be  equally  injurious ;  for  He  who  has 
given  natural  taste  and  genius,  has  also  ordained  ap- 
propriate checks  by  which  they  are  to  be  restrained 
within  due  bounds.  Quintilian  remarks :  "  It  is  de- 
servedly considered  meritorious  in  a  preceptor,  to 
mark  the  differences  of  genius,  in  those  whom  he 
nas  undertaken  to  educate,  and  to  ascertain  in  what 
direction  nature  would  carry  each  of  them.  For  in 
this  respect  there  is  an  incredible  variety,  the  forms 
of  minds  being  almost  as  multifarious  as  those  of 
bodies."*  We  will  add,  that  it  is  equally  important 

*  Virtus  prseceptoris  liaberi  solet,  nee  immerito,  dilligenter  in  iis 
quos  erudiendos  susceperit,  notare  discrimina  ingeniorum,  el  quo 
quemque  natura  maxirne  ferat,  scire.  Nam  est  in  hoc  incredibi- 
lis  qusdam  varietas,  nee  panciores  animorum  pene,  quam  coi 
porurn  forms. — Quint,  de  Instil.  Orat.  Proesm.,  lib.  ii,  8. 


292  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

that  the  checks  to  undue  or  disproportioned  de- 
velopment should  also  be  observed,  and  their  inti« 
mations  sacredly  regarded. 

All  our  faculties  are  designed  to  be  exerted  in 
harmony  with  each  other ;  hence  no  one  of  them  can 
receive  its  full  and  most  perfect  development,  with- 
out the  coincident  development  of  the  rest.  The 
whole  man  must  be  educated.  The  perceptive  facul- 
ties must  be  developed  and  actively  employed ; 
habits  of  attention — the  art  of  "  being  a  whole  ma  n  to 
one  thing  at  a  time" — must  be  formed;  the  power 
of  memory,  not  only  in  its  relation  to  general  prin- 
ciples, but  also  in  its  relation  to  particular  facts,  is 
to  be  assiduously  cultivated ;  reflection,  embracing 
the  exercise  of  the  reasoning  faculty,  so  indispensa- 
ble to  original  judgment,  must  be  exercised  till  its 
exercise  becomes  habitual  and  pleasing ;  and  the  im- 
agination, including  fancy  and  wit,  which  sheds  over 
every  object  of  perception  or  thought  an  ideal  radi- 
ance, is  not  to  be  left  uncultivated.  Where  all  these 
faculties  are  developed — developed  in  their  due  pro- 
portion, and  exercised  harmoniously  and  with  pro- 
per subordination — you  have  the  disciplined  mind  ; 
the  mind,  it  may  be,  that  is  not  calculated  to  soar 
and  shine  in  any  one  department  of  thought  or  ac- 
tion, but  able  to  employ  its  powers  usefully  and  hon- 
orably in  any  appropriate  sphere. 

These  characteristics,  however,  we  will  present 
more  fully  in  another  section. 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTEK.      295 

SECTION  XII. — CJuzracteristics  of  the  disciplined  irdnd. 

Our  treatise  would  be  incomplete,  did  we  not  point 
out  some  of  the  characteristics  of  the  well-disciplined 
mind.  In  attempting  this,  we  have  used  freely  the 
"  review  of  those  qualities  which  constitute  a  well- 
regulated  mind,"  appended  to  Abercrombie's  Philo- 
sophy of  the  Mind. 

This  recapitulation  embraces  the  following  par 
ticulars : — 

1.  The  well-disciplined  mind  will  possess  a  com 
mand  over  the  attention. 

This  is  necessary  for  the  exercise  of  every  other 
mental  process.  Careful  observation,  consecutive 
thinking,  and  correct  judging  and  reasoning,  are  not 
to  be  had  without  it ;  and  nothing  more  clearly  indi- 
cates the  ascendency  of  the  higher  over  the  lower 
principles  of  our  nature.  Hence  the  power  of  atten- 
tion, while  it  is  also  a  result  of  mental  training  and 
discipline,  lies  at  the  foundation  of  all  improvement 
of  character,  both  intellectual  and  moral.  There  is, 
•Indeed,  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  diversities 
m  the  power  of  judging,  in  different  individuals,  are 
much  less  than  we  are  apt  to  imagine ;  and  that  the 
remarkable  differences  observed  in  the  a^.t  of  judg- 
ir.g  are  rather  to  be  ascribed  to  the  manner  in  which 
the  mind  is  previously  directed  to  the  facts  on  which 
the  judgment  is  afterward  to  be  exercised.  The 
command  of  the  attention,  then,  is  a  first  and  indis- 
pensable requisite  to  a  well -disciplined  mind.  The 
command  of  attention  implies  also  that  endurance 


294  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

of  intellectual  effort  which  is  so  essential  in  the  in- 
vestigation of  knotty  and  difficult  subjects,  as  well 
as  to  the  establishment  of  enlightened  and  correct 
judgments. 

2.  The  well-disciplined  mind  will  have  power  it 
regulate  and  control  the  succession  of  its  thought*. 

This  power  is  very  much  the  result  of  cultivation, 
and  with  it  is  closely  connected  the  habit  of  regular 
and  consecutive  thinking.  It  is  primarily  a  volun- 
tary act,  and  the  act,  often  repeated,  becomes  ha- 
bitual ;  then  the  habit  gains  strength  with  exercise, 
till  the  individual's  control  over  the  succession  of 
his  thoughts  becomes  firmly  established.  Few  habits 
have  greater  influence  than  this  in  giving  tone  and 
consistency  to  the  whole  character.  Where  the 
thoughts  are  permitted  to  wander  at  large,  and  to 
take  any  direction  that  fancy  or  external  circum- 
stances may  dictate,  they  will  generally  be  devoted 
to  frivolous  and  transient  objects,  and  be  occupied, 
not  a  small  portion  of  the  time,  with  vague  and 
dreamy  reveries.  The  control  which  an  individual 
may  exercise  over  the  succession  of  his  thoughts  will 
affect  his  position  in  the  scale  of  moral  as  well  as 
intellectual  excellence.  And  when  this  control  \3 
thinly  established,  one  of  the  great  ends  of  mental 
discipline  is  secured. 

3.  The  disciplined  mind  mil  possess  the  habit  of 
correct  association. 

By  correct  association,  we  mean  that  facts  and 
principles  will  be  associated  in  the  mind  according 
to  their  true  and  most  important  relations.  Our 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.    295 

association  of  thoughts  if  not  only  affected  by  our 
circumstances,  situations,  and  occupations,  but  also 
by  the  discipline  of  mind  we  may  have  acquired. 
This  habit  is  essential  to  a  good  memory,  especially  to 
that  kind  of  memory  which  is  characteristic  of  a  culti- 
vated mind  ;  namely,  that  which  is  founded  not  upon 
incidental  connections,  but  on  true  and  important 
relations!  It  is  also  nearly  allied  to  the  useful  exer- 
cise of  reflection,  especially  when  employed  in  evolv- 
ing the  general  principles  or  conclusions  that  are 
reached  through  a  careful  observation  of  the  rela- 
tions of  particular  facts.  It  is  thus  that  the  well-dis- 
ciplined mind  often  traces  remarkable  relations  and 
deduces  important  conclusions  from  facts  which,  to 
the  common  understanding,  appeared  to  have  no 
connection,  or  only  a  remote  and  incidental  one. 

4.   The  well-disciplined  mind  will  possess  a  proper 
control  over  the  imagination. 

This  control  of  the  imagination  implies  that  it  be 
restrained  from  wandering  at  large  in  the  airy  re- 
gions of  fancy ;  but  that  its  range  be  restricted  to 
objects  which  harmonize  with  truth,  objects  thai 
possess  a  real  interest  and  importance.  The  utility 
of  the  imagination,  and  its  general  influence  upoi 
the  whole  intellectual  character,  we  have  alread 
seen.  It  is  an  impulsive  faculty,  that  may  be  turnea 
to  purposes  of  the  greatest  moment,  both  in  intellec- 
tual pursuits  and  in  the  cultivation  of  benevolence 
and  yirtue.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  it  may  be  so 
employed  as  to  debase  both  the  intellectual  and 
moral  character. 


296  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

5.  A  well-disciplined  mind  implies  habits  of  careful 
observation. 

The  improv ability  of  the  power  of  observation  is 
liifficiently  seen  in  those  remarkable  habits  rf  sensa- 
tion and  perception  which  have  ever  attracted  the 
attention  of  philosophers,  as  well  as  in  our  daily  ob- 
servation upon  different  individuals.  The  well- 
known  tale — "  Eyes  and  no  Eyes,  or  the  Art  of 
Seeing" — which  represents  two  lads  as  taking  the 
same  walk  in  succession,  the  one  seeing  nothing,  and 
having  a  "  dull  and  tiresome  walk,"  the  other  per- 
fectly enraptured  with  the  pleasing  objects  seen  in 
his  walk,  as  well  as  with  its  varied  incidents — sketched 
as  it  is  so  true  to  life  and  reality,  presents  a  striking 
illustration  of  the  advantage  of 'an  observing  eye, 
and  of  the  blank  occasioned  by  its  absence.  This 
habit  of  observation  is  a  fruitful  source  of  know- 
ledge ;  it  enables  us  to  glean  wisdom  from  every 
passing  event,  and  from  every  object  of  sense. 

6.  The  well-disciplined  mind  will  possess  a  memory 
at  once  comprehensive  and  tenacious. 

We  admit  that  the  recollection  of  things  is  more 
important  than  the  recollection  of  words  ;  and  that 
memory  that  comprehends  principles  more  important 
than  that  which  is  limited  to  facts  ;  but  the  perfec- 
tion of  memory,  as  we  have  already  seen,  is  to  com- 
bine the  two.  This  may  not  always  be  done  in 
equal  degrees  of  perfection  by  different  individuals ; 
it  is  clearly  evident  that  much  depends  on  cultiva- 
tion— habit  and  discipline. 

The  following  narration  is  in  point: — "I  once 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.      297 

knew  an  aged  prelate,  remarkable  for  a  lively  and 
unclouded  mind,  whose  stores  of  literature  appeared 
to  be  always  at  his  command.  With  the  utmost 
facility,  as  occasion  required  it,  and  yet  without  any 
appearance  of  pedantry,  did  he  quote  his  favorite 
passages  from  Sophocles  or  Pindar,  from  Horace  or 
Tacitus,  from  the  best  English  poets,  from  Milton's 
prose  works,  or  even  from  such  authors  as  Erasmus 
and  Grotius.  It  was  easy,  and  perhaps  not  unfair, 
to  ascribe  to  this  individual  a  structure  of  brain  pe- 
culiarly fitted  for  memory;  yet  his  friends  were 
instructed  by  knowing  that  he  owed  the  treasures 
of  his  age  mainly  to  the  habits  of  his  youth.  When 
he  was  a  boy  at  Winchester  school,  he  undertook  to 
commit  to  memory,  within  no  very  long  period  of 
time,  twelve  books  of  Homer's  Iliad,  six  books  of 
Virgil's  ^Eneid,  and  several  of  Cicero's  philosophi- 
cal treatises.  So  completely  did  he  succeed  in  the 
attempt,  that,  at  the  expiration  of  the  appointed 
time,  no  dodr/inr/  could  puzzle  him.  On  the  repeti- 
tion of  any  one  line  or  sentence  in  any  of  these 
writings,  he  could  immediately  repeat  the  next 
Who  can  doubt  that  he  triumphed  over  his  prodi- 
gious task  by  the  resolute  and  habitual  application 
of  his  undivided  powers  ?" 

7.  A  well-disciplined  mind  implies  also  tftf  power 
of  calm  and  correct  judgment. 

Some  of  the  prerequisites  to  the  formation  of  a 
sound  j  udgment  we  have  already  noticed.  It  im- 
plies that  close  attention  which  will  enable  the  indi- 
vidual to  examine  the  subject  in  all  its  parts — not 


2i'8  MENTAL   DISCTPLIXK. 

only  in  its  general  outlines,  but  in  its  minute  details, 
embracing  all  those  minute  particular.*,  and  then 
relations,  which  are  essential  to  a  correct  judgment. 
It  implies,  also,  an  elevation  of  the  intellect  al»ovc 
the  influence  of  passion  and  prejudice.  "  The  gmi? 
enemies  to  a  sound  judgment,"  says  a  careful  ob- 
server, "  are  prejudice  and  passion ;  and  until  we 
are  rid  of  these  foes,  our  intellect  Avill  never  bear 
upon  the  objects  of  its  attention  with  its  proper  ef- 
fect" To  digest  the  ideas  that  may  have  found 
a  vcss  to  the  mind  through  the  various  avenues  of 
knowledge,  so  as  to  retain  and  classify  that  which  (3 
really  valuable,  and  make  it  thus  our  own,  is  essen- 
tial to  the  full  development  of  the  intellectual  man. 
This  constitutes  the  difference  between  knowledge 
and  wisdom;  which,  so  "far  from  being  one,"  as  the 
poet  tells  us, — 

"  Have  ofttimes  no  connection.     Knowledge  dwells 
In  heads  replete  with  thoughts  of  other  men  ; 
Wisdom  in  minds  attentive  to  their  own." 

When  Sir  James  Mackintosh  was  visiting  the 
school  for  the  deaf  and  dumb  at  Paris,  then  under 
the  care  of  Abbe  Sicard,  he  is  said  to  have  addressed 
this  question  in  writing  to  one  of  his  pupils,  "  Doth 
God  reason  ?"  The  pupil,  for  a  short  time,  appeared 
to  be  distressed  and  confused,  but  soon  recovered 
himself,  and  wrote  on  a  slate  an  answer  worthy  of 
the  profoundest  philosopher :  "  To  reason  is  to  hesi- 
tate, to  doubt,  to  inquire — it  is  the  highest  attribute 
of  a  limited  intelligence.  God  sees  all  things,  fore- 
sees all  things,  knows  all  things :  therefore  God  doth 


DIVERSITIES  OF  MENTAL  CHARACTER.      299 

not  reason."  To  reach  his  proper  place  in  the  scale 
of  intelligence,  truth  must  not  only  be  taken  upon 
trust,  but  man  must  hesitate,  doubt,  and  inquire. 

8.  A  well-disciplined  mind  implies  also  tltat  the  in- 
tellectual powers  have  been  trained  to  activity. 

It  is  not  sufficient  that  intellectual  power  has  bcrn 
generated ;  that  power  must  be  actively  employed. 
The  vis  inertue  of  our  nature  must  be  overcome. 
"  A  foreigner,  who  had  traveled  extensively  through 
many  portions  of  the  globe,  was  asked  whether  he 
observed  that  any  one  quality,  more  than  another, 
could  be  regarded  as  a  common  or  universal  charac- 
teristic of  our  species.  He  answered,  in  broken 
English,  '  Me  tink  dat  all  men  love  lazy.' "  A 
steady  activity  of  mind — honest  perseverance  in 
mental  application — has  always  effected  more  than 
brilliant  talents  alone  ;  but  when  the  two  are  united 
• — when  the  force  of  industry  is  joined  to  superior 
abilities — what  wonders  may  be  achieved  ! 

9.  A  well-disciplined  mind  also  implies  a  sound 
condition  of  the  moral  feelings. 

In  order  to  the  fullest  development  of  mind,  there 
must  be  a  harmonious  development  and  action  of  all 
its  powers.  The  moral  feelings  hold  an  important 
relation  to  this  general  harmony  of  the  mental  func- 
tions. Along,  then,  with  the  cultivation  of  the 
intellectual  powers,  there  must  be  a  cultivation  of 
the  benevolent  affections  and  moral  feelings;  the 
passions,  emotions,  and  desires  must  all  receive  due 
regulation  ;  and  the  supreme  authority  of  conscience 
over  the  whole  intellectual  and  moral  system  must 


300  MENTAL  DISCIPLINE. 

be  fully  acknowledged.  No  system  of  intellectual 
education,  even,  can  be  otherwise  than  defective, 
unless  it  comprehend  in  its  wide  scope  the  due  regu- 
lation of  the  moral  feelings.  And  never  does  intel- 
lect become  so  clear  in  its  perceptions,  so  pene- 
trating in  its  research,  and  so  wide  in  its  range,  as 
when  allied  with  a  pure  and  holy  heart.  The  cor- 
ruption of  the  heart  reaches  up  to  the  intellect, 
mars  its  symmetry,  clouds  its  horizon,  and  distracts 
its  action.  Purity  and  truth — the  heart  and  the 
intellect — have  been  united  by  God,  and  man  may 
not  put  them  asunder.  The  highest  state  of  intel- 
lectual greatness  is  attainable  only  in  connection 
with  the  highest  state  of  moral  excellence.  The 
mind  is  not  disciplined  as  it  should  be,  unless  it  be 
disciplined  to  purity  as  well  as  to  truth. 


APPENDIX. 


TOPICAL  COURSE  OF  THEOLOGICAL  STUDY, 

THE  following  Course  of  Theological  Study 
embraces  most  of  the  topics  in  a  complete  body  of 
divinity.  The  list  of  books  referred  to  has  been 
limited  to  the  lowest  practicable  number.  Refer- 
ence has,  in  some  instances,  been  made  to  authors 
of  opposite  sentiments.  A  complete  system  of  divi- 
nity is  yet  a  desideratum  in  the  Methodist  E.  Church. 

I. 
INTRODUCTORY   VIEW  OF    THEOLOGY. 

I.  Preliminary  Observations; — including   definitions 
of  theology,   its   sources,    objects,    divisions,   and 
study. 

Dick's  Theology,  vol.  i,  lee.  1;  Wilson's  Evidences 
of  Christianity,  vol.  i,  lee.  1,  2. 

II.  Natural  Theology  ; — its  use,  extent,  and  limitation, 

Watson's  Theological   Institutes,  part  i,  chap.   11 
Dick's    Theol.,   vol.    i,  lee.    2 ;    Watson's   Expts., 
pp.  468,  482. 

III.  Supernatural  or  Revealed  Theology; — its  possibi- 
lity, desirableness,  necessity,  and  probable  character. 

Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  3  ;  Watson's  Theol.  Insts., 
part  i,  chap.  1-8  ;  Wilson's  Evidences  of  Christianity, 
vol.  i,  lee.  3. 


302  APPENDIX. 

II 

EVIDENCES    OF    DIVINE    REVELATION. 
J.   Genuineness  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

Watson's  Thcol.  lusts.,  part  i,  chap.  12,  13  ;  Dick'n 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  4,  5,  6  ;  Sandford's  Help  to  F;iith, 
part  i,  chap.  1,  2,  3  ;  Wilson's  Ev.,  v  >1.  i,  lee.  4, 
Keith's  Dem.  of  Cnr.  ;  Clarke's  Ch.  Theol., 
chap,  i ;  Genuineness  of  the  Word  of  God,  by  Ed 
Bagster's  Comprehensive  Bible,  ch.  i,  pp.  21-23, 
47-65. 

II.  Authenticity  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

Paley's  Evidences,  part  ii,  chap.  9  ;  Watson's  Theol. 
Insts.,  pirt  i,  chap.  9,  10 ;  Wilson's  Ev.,  vol.  i 
lee.  4,  5;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee  7;  Handford's 
Help  ;  Keith  ;  Authenticity  of  the  Word  of  God,  by 
Ed.  Bag.  Comp.  Bib.,  chap,  iii,  pp.  24-31,  69-166.' 

III.  Historical   Evidence   of    Christianity  generally 

considered. 

Paley's  Ev.,  part  i ;  Tovvnley's  Bib.  Lit.  ;  Sandford's 
Help,  part  i,  chap.  1,  2,  3  ,  Wilson's  Ev.,  vol.  i,  lee.  6. 

IV.  Proof  from  Miracles  generally  considered. 

Paley's  Ev.,  prop,  ii,  chap.  2  ;  Watson's  Theol.  Insts., 
part  i,  chap.  15,  16;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  7; 
Sandford's  Help,  part  ii,  ch.  2;  Wilson's  Ev.,  vol.  i,  1.7. 

V.  Proof  from  Prophecy  generally  considered. 

Paley's  Ev  part  ii,  ch.  1  ;  Watson's  Theol.  Insts., 
part  i,  ch.  17,  18 ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  8 ;  Sand- 
ford's  Help,  p.  ii,  ch.  4-9  ;  Wilson's  Ev.,  vol  i; 
lee.  8,  9  ;  Keith  on  Prophecies. 

VI.  Languages  in  which  the  original  Scriptures  were 

written. 

VII.  State  of  the  Sacred  Text. 

Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  12  ;  Townley's  Bib.  Lit , 
Gen.  &c.  of  the  Word  of  God,  ch.  ii,  pp.  23,  24,  68,  69 


APPENDIX.  303 

VIII    Internal  Evidence  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

1.  The  subject  generally  considered. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  i,  chap.  19,  20; 
Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  9  ;  Sandford's  Help  to 
Faith,  part  i,  chap.  4. 

2.  Character  of  the  sacred  writers  generally. 
Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  i,  chap.  14  ;  Wilson's 
Evidences,  vol.  i,  lee.  6. 

3.  Character  of  Christ  and  his  apostles. 

Paley's  Evidences,  part  ii,  chap.  3-6  ;  Wilson/a 
Evidences,  vol.  ii.  lee.  17. 

4.  Character  and  influence  of  Christianity. 
Paley's    Evidences,  part   ii,  chap.  2 ;    Methodist 
Episcopal   Pulpit,  ser.    17 ;    Wilson's    Evidences, 
vol.  i,  lee.   10,  11  ;  ib.,  vol.  ii,  lee.  18  ;  Methodist 
Qr.  Rev.,  vol.  xxiii,  No.  i,  art.  3. 

5.  Coincidence  between  the  Old  and  New  Testaments. 

6.  Coincidences  between  the  Acts  and  the  Epistles. 
Paley's  Horaj  Paulinae. 

7.  Propagation  of  Christianity. 

Paley's  Evidences,  part  ii,  chap.  9  ;  Dick's  Theol  , 
vol.  i,  lee.  9  ;  Wilson's  Evidences,  vol.  i,  lee.  10. 

IX.  Objections  considered. 

Paley's  Evidences,  part   iii ;    Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i, 
lee.  10  ;  Wilson's  Evidences,  vol.  ii,  lee.  21. 

X.  Inspiration  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures. 
Inspiration  of  the  Word  of  God,  by  Ed.  Bag.  Comp 
Bib.,  ch.  iv,  pp.  31-46,  166-337;  M.  E.  Pulpit,  ser.  ii , 
Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  11  ;   Paley's  Ev.,  part  ir, 
ch.  1  ;  Wilson's  Ev..  vol.  i,  lee.  12,  13  ;  Watson's  Ex  , 
pp.  193,  464,  486. 

XI.  The  Sacred  Scriptures  our  Divine  Rule  of  Faith, 

and  Practice. 

Peck's  Rule  of  Faith. — The  subject  is  here  fully  and 
ably  discussed. 

XII.  Of  the  Study  and  Inter pr  elation  of  the  Scriptures. 
Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  13  ;  Wilson's  Evidences, 


304  APPEND  ;X. 

vol.  i,  lee.  1,  2;  ib.,  vol.  ii,  lee.  23,  24;  Watson's 
Expos.,  pp.  112,  186,  211,  272;  Ernesti  on  Inter- 
pretation. 

SUT.  TJie  two  Dispensations. 

Methodist  Qr.  Rev.,  vol.  xxix,  No.  i,  art.  7 ;  Dick'i 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  14,  15. 

III. 
THE    EXISTENCE   OF    GOD. 

L  Direct  Proofs. 

Paley's  Natural  Theology,  chap,  i-xxii ;  Watson's 
Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  1  ;  Dwight's  Theology, 
vol.  i,  ser.  1;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  16,  17; 
Clarke's  Christian  Theol.,  chap,  ii,  (subject  gene- 
rally.) 

Q.  Hypotheses  and  Arguments  of  Atheists  considered, 
Dw/ght's  Theol.  vol.  i,  ser.  2 ;  Godwin  on  Atheism, 
lee.  1-4. 

III.  Comparative  Influence  of  Atheism  and  Chris- 
tianity. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  3  ;  Godwin  on  Atheism, 
lee.  6. 

IV. 
THE    ATTRIBUTES    OF    GOD. 

I.  Personality  and  Unity  of  God. 

Paley's  Nat.  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  chap.  23,  25  ;  Watson  > 
Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  2  ;  Dwight's  Theol., 
vol.  i,  ser.  4 ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  18  ;  Wes- 
ley's Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  119  ;  Wesleyana,  chap,  iii, 
(attributes  generally  ;)  Clarke's  Christian  Theology, 
chap.  3,  (subject  generally.) 

IL  Eternity  and  Spirituality  of  God. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap,  2,  3 ;  Paley'g 


APPENDIX.  305 

Nat.  Thcol.,  vol.  ii,  chap.  24;  Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  t, 
ser.  5;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  17. 

III.   Omnipresence  or  Immensity  of  God. 

Watson's  Theol.  lasts.,  part  ii,  chap.  3  ;  Paley's  Nat 
Theol.,  vol.  ii,  chap.  24 ;  Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  i, 
ser.  6 ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  19 ;  Wesley's 
Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  116. 

]  V.  Omniscience  or  Knowledge  of  God. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  4;  Paley's 
Nat.  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  chap.  24 ;  Dwight's  Theol., 
vol.  i,  ser.  6 ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  21. 

V.  Wisdom  of  God. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  5 ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  13 ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  22. 

VI.  Omnipotence  of  God. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  3 ;  Paley's 
Nat.  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  chap.  24 ;  Dwight's  Theol., 
vol.  i,  ser.  7  ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  23. 

"VTL  Immutability  of  God, 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  5 ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  ser.  5 ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  20. 

VIII  Justice  of  God. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  7 ;  Dwight'a 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  10  ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  26. 

IX.  Truth  or  Veracity  of  God. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  11;  Dick's  Theol, 
vol.  i,  lee.  26. 

X     Goodness  or  Benevolence,  of  God. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  6 ;  Paley's 
Nat.  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  chap.  26 ;  Dwight's  Theol« 
vol.  i,  ser.  8,  9,  12  ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  24. 

20 


306  APPENDIX. 

XL  Holiness  of  God. 

Watson's    Theol.    Insts.,  part    ii,  chap.  7;    Dick's 
Thcol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  27. 

XII.  Incomprehensibleness  of  God. 
V. 

THE    TRINITY    IN    THE    GODHEAD. 

L  The  Doctrine  of  the  Trinity. 

1.  The  doctrine  explained.  2.  Testimony  of  the 
Scriptures.  3.  Collateral  proof  from  the  Scriptures. 
4.  Testimony  of  ancient  Jews  and  heathen  5.  Tes- 
timony of  the  early  Christian  church.  6.  Objections 
to  the  doctrine  considered — inconceivable — inconsist- 
ent with  the  divine  unity — few  texts  to  support  it. 
Watson's  Theol.  Insts..  part  ii,  chap.  8,  9  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  ii,.ser.  71  ;  'Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  28, 
29  ;  Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  60  ;  Fletcher's 
Works,  vol.  iii,  part  6-8  ;  Clarke's  Christian  Theol., 
chap,  iv,  (subject  generally.) 

H,  Divinity  of    Christ ;    or,    Christ    the    true    and 
perfect  God. 

1.  Pre-existence  of  Christ. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  10  ;  Dick's 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  30 ;  Fletcher's  Worics,  vol.  ii, 
part  vii,  sec.  2,  3. 

2.  Incarnation  of  Christ. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  16  ;  Dwight's 

Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  42  ;    Watson's  Sermons,  vol.  i, 

eer.    22  ;     Fletcher's    Works,    vol     iii,    part    vi, 

chap.  12. 

3    Direct   Scripture   testimony  to    tfie   divinity   of 
Christ. 

Fletcher's  Works,  vol.  iii,  part  vi,  chap.  3,  4,  5 ; 

ib.,  part  viii ;  Wesleyana,  chap.  4,  (subject  gf  :.e- 

rally.) 
4.  Christ  the  Jehovah  of  the  Old  Testaraent. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  11;   : 


APPENDIX.  307 

Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  31  ;  Fletckr's  Works,  Mil.  Hi, 
part  vi,  chap.  6. 

6  Titles  applied  to  Christ  expressive  of  his  divinity. 
Fletcher's  Works,  vol.  iii,  part  vi,  chap.  7  ;  Wat- 
son's Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  12 ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  35 ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i, 
lee.  30. 

6.  Attributes  of  Deity  ascribed  to  Christ. 
Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  13  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.    i,   ser.   36  ;    Dick's   Theol.,   vol.    i, 
lee.  31. 

7.  Works  of  Christ  proof  of  his  divinity  : — (1.)  Cre- 

ation ;  (2.)  Providence  ;  (3.)  Miracles  ;  (4.)  Sal- 
vation. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  14  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  36;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i, 
lee.  31  ;  Fletcher's  Works,  vol.  iii,  part  vi, 
chap.  8,  9,  10. 

8.  Worship  to  be  paid  to  Christ. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  15  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  37;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i, 
lee.  32  ;  Fletcher's  Works,  vol.  iii,  part  vi,  chap.  11. 

9.  Practical  importance  of  the  doctrine  of  Christ's 

divinity. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  38  ;  Dick's  Theol., 
vol.  i,  lee.  30;  ib.,  lee.  32;  Fletcher's  Works, 
vol.  iii,  part  vi,  chap.  14. 

10.  Objections  to  the  divinity  of  Christ  considered. 
Fletcher's  Works,   vol.  iii,   part  vi,  chap.  2,  13  ; 
Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  39 ;  Dick's  Theoi., 
vol.  i,  lee.  32. 

11.  Objections  to  the  Unitarian  doctrine  of  Christ. 
Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  40, 41  ;  Dick's  Theol., 
vol.  i,  lee.  30. 

12.  Sonship  of  Christ. 

Watson's  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  12,  16;  Treffry  oa 
the  Eternal  Sonship. 

111.  The  Divinity  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
1.  Personality  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  17;  Dwight'a 


308  APPENDIX. 

Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  70;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i, 
lee.  33. 

2.  Deity  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,part  ii,  chap.  17;  Dwight'i 
Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  71  ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i, 
lee.  33  ;  Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  138. 

3.  Intelligibleness  and  practical  uses  of  the  doctrine 

of  the  divinity  of  the  Holy  Spir;t. 

VI. 
DOCTRINE    OF    MAN'S  APOSTASY. 

I.  Character  and  State  of  Man  lefore  the  Fall. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  18  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  26  ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  40; 
Methodist  Episcopal  Pulpit,  ser.  3 ;  Wesleyana, 
chap.  7,  (subject  generally  ) 

n.  Scripture  Doctrine  of  the  Fall. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap  18  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  27 ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  34, 
35,  36  ;  Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  62  ;  Fletch- 
er's Works,  vol.  iii,  part  5. 

TIL   Of  the  Sentence  pronounced  upon  Man. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  18  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  28. 

IV.  TJie  Doctrine  of  Human  Depravity  proved. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  18;  Dwight'e 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  29,  30. 

V.  The  Extent  and  Degree  of  Human  Depravity. 
Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  18  ;  Dwight'a 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  31. 

"VI.  The  Derivation  of  Depravity  from  Adam. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  i,  chap.  18  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  32  ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  47. 

VII.  Objections  to  the  Doctrine  consider^. 

1.  Supposed    inconsistency   with  the    goodness    ?f 


APPENDIX.  309 

God;    2,  with  the  moral  agency  of  man;    3,  with 
the  divine  commands  and  invitations  ;  4,  with  cer- 
tain  texts  which  are  supposed  to  indicate  that   un- 
renewed  man  has  some  degree  of  holiness. 
Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  18  ; 

VT1I.  Practical  Uses  and  Importance  of  the  Doctrine 

of  Depravity. 
Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  33  ;  ib.,  ser.  34. 


VII. 
THE    REMEDIAL    DISPENSATION. 

I.  Redemption,  or  the  Doctrine  of  Atonement. 

1.  Subject  discussed  generally. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  19-22  , 
Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  50-58  ;  Dick's  Theol., 
vol.  ii,  lee.  56-58  ;  Watson's  Sermons,  vol.  i, 
ser.  37. 

2.  Necessity  of  the  atonement. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  55  ;  Watson's  Ex- 
position, pp.  281,  493;  Methodist  Qr.  Rev., 
vol.  xxii,  No.  ii,  art.  2. 

3.  Nature  of  the  atonement. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  55,  56  ;  Watson's 
Exposition,  pp.  213,  214. 

4.  Universali'y  of  the  atonement. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  25-28. 

5.  Unconditional  benefits  of  the  atonement. 
Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  23  ;  Dwight'a 
Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  58. 

6.  Salvation  of  those  who  die  in  infancy. 
Watson's  Theol.   Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  18  ;   Wat- 
son's Expos.,  pp.  191,  199. 

7.  Objections   to   the   doctrine   of   atonement    con- 

sidered. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  57  ;  Wa'son's  Fxpo- 
sition,  p.  493. 

8.  Theories  respecting  the  atonement. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  23  ;  Metho- 


310  APPENDIX. 

dist  Qt.  Rev.,  vol.  xxviii,  No.  iii,  art.  4;  vi. 
vol.  xxix,  No.  iii,  arts.  4  and  6. 

II.  Justification,  Nature  and  Condition  of. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  cnap.  23  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  ii,  scr.  64,  69  ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  ii, 
lee.  69-72  ;  Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  5  ;  Wat- 
son's Exposition,  pp.  466,  467  ;  Methodist  Qr.  Rev., 
vol.  xxvi,  No.  i,  art.  1  ;  ib.,  vol.  xxvii,  No.  i,  art.  1  ; 
Wesleyana,  chap.  10 ;  Clarke's  Christian  Theol., 
chap.  9. 

HE.  Regeneration. 

1.  Necessity  of  regeneration. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  73 ;  Dick's>  Theol., 
vol.  ii,  lee.  66 ;  Watson's  Exposition,  p.  186 ; 
Clarke's  Christian  Theol.,  chap.  10. 

2.  Nature  of  regeneration  generally  considered. 
Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  24  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  ser.  74  ;  Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  45  ; 
Watson's  Sermons,   vol.    ii,   ser.    113;    Watson's 
Exposition,    pp.     144,     186,     204 ;     Wesleyana, 
chap.  11. 

3.  Means  by  which  effected — (1.)  Indirect ;   (2.)  Di- 
rect. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  72 ;  Wesley's  Ser- 
mons, vol.  i,  ser.  1. 

4.  General  evidences  of  the  renewed  state. 
Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  scr.  75-81  ;  ib.,  ser.  88, 
89,  90  ;   Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  18  ;  Wes- 
leyana, chap.  11. 

5.  Fruits  of  the  Spirit  as  evidenced  in  the  regenerate. 
Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  79-81  ;  ib.,  84-36  ; 
Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  8. 

V.  Adoption  of  the  Believer. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii.  chap.  24 ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  82  ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  lee.  73  ; 
Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  9  ;  Watson's  Sermons, 
vol.  ii,  scr.  104 ;  Walton's  Witness  of  the  Spirit, 
chap.  2. 


APPENDIX.  311 

V.  Witness  of  the  Spirit. — (1 .)    Direct,  or  witness 
of  God's  Spirit.     (2.)  Indirect,  or  witness  of  our 
own  spirit. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts  ,  part  ii,  chap  24;  Wesley's 
Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  10,  11,  12;  Walton's  Treatise 
on  the  Witness  of  the  Spirit ;  Clarke's  Christian 
Theol.,  chap.  12. 

VI.  Holiness,    including    Sanctification   and    Chris- 

tian Perfection. 

Dr.  Peck's  Scripture  Doctrine  of  Christian  Perfec- 
tion ;  Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  29 ; 
Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  83,  86  ;  Dick's  Theol., 
vol.  ii,  lee.  74,  75  ;  Wesley's  Sermons^  vol.  i,  ser.  40  ; 
Wesley's  Plain  Account ;  Methodist  Episcopal  Pul- 
pit, ser.  9;  Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  186,  227,417; 
Methodist  Qr.  Rev.,  vol.  xxiii,  No.  i,  art.  6 ;  ib., 
No.  ii,  art.  7 ;  Wesleyana,  chap.  12. 

VII.  Possibility  of  Falling  from  Grace. 

Doctrinal  Tracts  ;  Fletcher's  Works,  vol.  ii,  part  m ; 
ib.,  part  vii ;  Dwight's  Theol.,  vol  iii,  ser.  87. 

Vni.  The  Law  and  the  Gospel. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iii,  chap.  1  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  91  ;  Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  i, 
ser.  34-36  ;  Methodist  Qr.  Rev.,  vol.  xxix,  No.  i, 
art.  7;  Fletcher's  Works,  vol.  i,  ii,  part  i;  Wesley- 
ana,  chap.  6  ;  Clarke's  Christian  Theol.,  chap.  13. 

VIII. 

SYSTEM    OF    CHRISTIAN    DUTIES. 

I.  Ground  of  Moral  Obligation. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iii,  chap.  1  ;  Methodist 
Episcopal  Pulpit,  ser.  5. 

II.  Repentance. 

1.  Repentance  considered  generally. 
Clarke's  Christian  Theol.,  chap.  7 ;  Wesley's  Ser- 
mons, vol.  i,  ser.  7 ;  Wesleyana,  chap.  8. 


312  APPENDIX. 

2.  Repentance  of  the  unrenewed. 
Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  7. 

3.  Repentance  of  believers. 
Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  13,  14. 

III.  Faith  in  God. 

Watson's  Exposition,  pp.  183,  220,  359,  -161  ; 
Dwight's  Thcol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  65,  66  ;  Dick's  Theol,, 
vol.  ii,  lee.  68  ;  Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  6 ; 
vol.  ii,  ser.  Ill,  115,  118,  126  ;  Wesleyana,  chap.  9; 
Clarke's  Christian  Theol.,  chap.  8. 

IV.  Love  to  God. 

Wratson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iii,  chap.  2  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  92;  Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  201. 
233,  241,  360,  423,  436. 

V.  Christian  Virtues. 

1.  Reverence  of  God. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  93. 

2.  Submission  to  God. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iii,  chap.  2 ;  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Pulpit,  ser.  7. 

3.  Trust  in  God. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iii,  chap.  2. 

4.  Fear  of  God. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iii,  chap.  2. 

5.  Humility. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  94 ;  Watson's  Ex- 
pos., pp.  186,  191,  237-239. 

6.  Resignation. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  95. 

7.  Patience. 

Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  88. 

8.  Self-denial. 

Wesley's  Sermons,  voi.  i,  ser.  48 ;  Watson's  Ei- 

pos.,  pp.  175,  202,  206. 
9    Contentment. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  129. 
\TJ.  Religious  Meditation. 

Watson's  Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  11  ;  Dwight's  Theol., 
vol.  iv,  ser.  146. 


APPENDIX.  313 

VII.   Obedience  to  the  Law  of  Christ. 

Wilson's  Evidences,  vol.  ii,  lee.  25  ;  Methodist  E[  i»- 
copal  Pulpit,  ser.  14;  Watson's  Expos.,  p.  61. 

Vm   Prayer. 

1  General  subject,  .ts  nature,  obligation,  efftacy,  &c. 
Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iii,  chap.  2  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  139,  142;  Dick's  Nat.  Thcol., 
vol.  ii,  lee.  93  ;  Methodist  Episcopal  Pulpit,  ser.  1 1  ; 
Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  74,  85,  463  ;  Clarke's  Chris- 
tian Theol.,  chap.  15. 

2.  Private  Prayer. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iii,  chap.  2  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  140 ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  ii, 
lee.  94 ;  Watson's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  73  ;  Wat- 
son's Expos.,  p.  72. 

3.  Family  Prayer. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iii,  chap.  2  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  141  ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol  ii, 
lee.  94. 

4.  Public  Prayer. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iii,  chap.  2 ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  147  ;  Dick's  Theol.  vol.  ii, 
lee.  94. 

5.  Liturgies  vs.  Extemporaneous  Prayer. 
Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iii,  chap.  2  ;  Dwight'a 
Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.   145;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  ii, 
lee.  95. 

6.  Objections  to  prayer  considered. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  143;  Dick's  TheoL- 
vol.  ii,  lee.  93 ;  Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  74,  440. 

IX.  Confession  of  sin. 
Watson's  Expos.,  p.  38. 

X.  Fasting. 

Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  102,  103. 

XI.  Watchfulness. 

Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  252,  262,  279,  288,  453. 

XII.  Reading  of  the  Scriptures. 


314  APPENDIX. 

XLH.  Attendance  upon  Public  Worship. 

Watson's  Expos.,  p.  406  ;  Clarke's  Christian  Theol , 
chap.  14  ;  Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  138. 

XIV.  Observance  of  the  Ordinances  of  Religion. 
Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  16. 

XV.  Relative  Christian  Duties. 

1.  Love  to  our  neighbor. 

Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  99 ;  Dwigiit'a 
Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  96-99 ;  Watson's  Sermons, 
vol.  ii,  ser.  111. 

2.  Duty  of  parents  to  children. 

Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  99,  100  ;  D wight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  Ill,  112;  ib.,  ser.  147,  148. 

3.  Duty  of  children  to  parents. 

Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  101 ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  110. 

4.  Duty  of  civil  rulers. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  113. 

5    Duty  of  subjects  of  civil  government. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  114. 

6.  Chastity. 

Dvvight's  Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  119-121. 

7.  Temperance. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  118. 

8.  Truthfulness  or  integrity. 
Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  125. 

9.  IndusTy. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  122. 

10.  Charity  to  the  poor,  or  benevolence. 
Wesley's   Sermons,   vol.    ii,   ser.    136 ;    Dwight's 
Theol.,    vol.    iii,    ser.     130 ;     Watson's    Expos., 
pp.  68,  436  ;  Methodist  Episcopal  Pulpit,  ser.  20. 

XVI.  Improvement  of  Time. 

Wesley's  Sermons,   vol.  ii,  ser.  98 ;   Watson's  Ser- 
mons, vol.  ii,  ser.  98. 

XVIL  Avoiding  the  Appearance  of  Evil. 
Methodist  Episcopal  Pulpit,  ser.  31. 


APPENDIX.  315 

7CVHI.  Tlie  Decalogue. 

Dwight's    Theol.,   vol.    ii,    ser.   100-132;     Dick'i 
Theol.,  vol.  ii,  lee.  102-105. 


DOCTRINES   OF    RELIGION. 

I.  Immortality  of  the  Soul. 

Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  116,  157,  181,  232,  450. 

II.  The  Free  Agency  and  Responsibility  of  Man. 
Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,    part  i,  chap.  1;  Methodist 
Qr.  Rev.,  vol.  xxvii,  No.  iv,  art.  6. 

HI.  Of  Creation. 

Dwi<rht's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  21 ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i, 
lee.  37. 

IV.   Of  Angels — Iwly  and  fallen. 

Clarke's  Christian  Tlieol.,  chap.  26;  Dwight's  Theol., 
vol.  i,  ser.  18-20  ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  lee.  38,  39  ; 
Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  76,  77 ;  Watson's 
Exposition,  pp.  76,  148,  150,  189,  450. 

Y.   Of  Heaven — the  Three-fold  Heaven. 

Dwicrht's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  17  ;  Watson's  Expos., 
pp.  43,  94,  231,  433,  434. 

"VI.   Of  the  Nature  of  Man. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  i,  ser.  22-24 ;  Wesley's  Ser- 
mons, vol.  ii,  ser.  108,  114;  Methodist  Episcopal 
Pulpit,  ser.  3. 

VII.  Intercession  of  Christ. 

Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  ser.  58;  Dick's  Theol., 
vol.  ii,  lee.  59. 

Ylll.  Divine  Providence. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Pulpit,  ser.  13  ;  Dick's  Theol., 
vol.  i,  lee.  41-43  ;  Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  72 ; 
Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  80^  81,  83,  117,447;  Clarke's 
Christian  Theol.  chap.  29. 


316  APPENDIX. 

[X   Kingdom  of  Christ. 

Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  35,  53,  82,  177 ;  Dick's  Theo\., 
vol.  i,  lee.  64. 

X    General  Spread  of  the  Gospel. 

Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  68  ;  Watson's  Ser- 
mons, vol.  ii,  ser.  95. 

XL  Doctrines  of  Unconditional  Election  and  Repro~ 
bation  specially  considered. 

Fletcher's  Works,  vol.  ii,  part  iv-vi ;  Doctrinal 
Tracts. 

X. 

THE    FUTURE    STATE. 

I.  Death  Temporal  as  a  Result  of  Sin. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  18  ;  Methodist 
Episcopal  Pulpit,  Ser.  4 ;  Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iv, 
ser.  163;  Clarke's  Christian  Theol.,  chap.  31. 

II.  77<e  Intermediate  State  of  the  Dead. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  ii,  chap.  29  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  164;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  ii, 
lee.  80,  81  ;  Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  116,  181. 

III.  The  Resurrection  of  the  Body. 

Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  134;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  165  ;  Kingsley  on  the  Resurrec- 
tion ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  lee.  82  ;  Watson's  Ser- 
mons, vol.  i,  ser.  19  ;  Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  181,  231, 
232,  448;  Methodist  Episcopal  Pulpit,  ser.  30. 
IV  TJie  Final  Judgment. 

Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  15  ;  Dwight's  Theol., 
vol.  iv,  ser.  166 ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  lee.  63 ; 
Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  89,  90,  176,  254,  255,  204, 
267  ;  Clarke's  Christian  Theol.,  chap.  32. 

V.  The  Future  Blessedness  of  the  Righteous. 

Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  ser.  140  ;  Dwight's  Theol., 
vol.  iv,  ser.  169-171  ;  Dick's  Theol.,  voL  ii,  lee.  F3  ; 
Clarke's  Christian  Theol.,  chap.  34. 


APPENDIX.  317 

VL  The  Future  Punishment  of  the  Wicked. 

Merritt  and  Fisk's  Discussion  on  Universal  S;ilva- 
tion  ;  Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  167,  168  ;  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Pulpit,  ser.  23  ;  Universalism  Exam- 
ined, Renounced,  &c.  ;  Watson's  Ex.,  pp.  42,  117, 
151,  269,  352,  479  ;  Clarke's  Ch.  Theol..  chap  33. 

XI. 
INSTITUTIONS  OF  RELIGION. 

I.  The  Christian  Church. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iv,  chap.  1  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  149 ;  Clarke's  Christian  Theol., 
chap.  17. 

II.  The  Ministry. 

Wesley's  Sermons,  vol.  ii,  sef.  139  ;  Dwight's  Theol., 
vol.  iv,  ser.  150-154;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  lee.  84, 
85  ;  Watson's  Sermons,  vol.  i,  ser.  35,  37  ;  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Pulpit,  ser.  24 ;  Clarke's  Christian 
Theol.,  chap.  25. 

III.  The  Christian  Sabbath. 

Watson's  Th"ol.  Insts.,  part  iii,  chap.  3 ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iii,  ser.  105-109. 

IV.  Of  the  Sacraments  in  General. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iv,  chap.  2 ;  Dick's 
Theol.,  vol.  ii,  lee.  86,  87. 

V.  The  Lord's  Supper. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iv,  chap.  4 ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  160,  161;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  ii, 
lee.  90-92 ;  Dr.  Clarke's  Sermon  on ;  Watson'* 
Expos.,  pp.  274,  278-283,  447 ;  Clarke's  Christian 
Theol.,  chap.  19. 

VI.  Baptism. 

1 .  On  what  the  obligation  to  its  observance  rests. 
Hibbard   on   Baptism,   chap.    9 ;    Dick's   Theol., 
vol.  ii,  lee.  88. 


SIS  APPENDIX. 

2.  Nature  of  ttie  sacrament. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iv,  chap.  3  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  156  ;  Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  i, 
lee.  88,  89;  Hibbard  on  Baptism,  chap.  10;  Wat- 
son's Expos.,  p.  318. 

3.  The  mode  of  its  administration. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iv,  chap.  3  ;  Methud- 
ist  Episcopal  Pulpit,  ser.  28,  29 ;  Hibbard  on 
Baptism  ;  Dwight's  Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  lf»9 ; 
Dick's  Theol.,  vol.  ii,  lee.  88  ;  Methodist  Qr.  Rev., 
vol.  xxvi,  No.iii,  art.  1. 

4.  The  time  or  order  of  baptism. 

Hibbard  on  Baptism,  chap.  11  ;  Clarke's  Christi~n 
Theol.,  chap.  18,  (general  subject.) 

5.  Subjects  of  baptism. 

Watson's  Theol.  Insts.,  part  iv,  chap.  3  ;  Dwight's 
Theol.,  vol.  iv,  ser.  157,  158;  Dick's  Theol. 
vol.  ii,  lee.  88  ;  Hibbard's  Treatise  on  Infant  Bap 
tism  ;  Watson's  Expos.,  pp.  199,  200. 


XII. 

MISCELLANEOUS  SUBJECTS. 

L  Cliurch  Polity. 

Methodist  Discipline  ;  Hedding  on  Discipline  ;  De- 
fense of  our  Fathers  ;  Ecclesiastical  Polity,  by  A.  N. 
Fillmore  ;  Essay  on  Church  Polity,  by  A.  Stevens  ; 
Powell  on  the  Apostolical  Succession ;  Original 
Church  of  Christ,  by  Dr.  Bangs. 

II.  Church  History. 

Mosheim's  Eccl.  History  ;  Eusebius's  Eccl.  History  ; 
Bangs's  Hist.  M.  E.  Ch.  ;  D'  Aubigne's  Hist.  Ref.  ; 
Milman's  Hist.  Christianity ;  Waddington's  Church 
History. 

III.  Bible  History. 

Turner's  Sacred  History  of  the  Bible;  Gloig's  Hist, 
of  the  Bible  ;  Hunter's  Sacred  Biography  ;  Robinson'i 
Christian  Characters. 


APPENDIX  319 

IV.  Biblical  Literature. 

Essays  on  Bib.  Lit.,  1  vol.  8vo. ;  Hurder's  Hebrew 
Poetry  ;  Townley's  Illustrations  of  Bib.  Lit.  ;  Jahn's 
Bib.  Archeology ;  Lowth's  Lectures  on  Hebrew 
Poetry. 

V.  Philosophy  of  Language — Rhetoric. 

Blair's  Rhetoric ;  Whateley's  Rhetoric  ;  Boyd's 
Elements  of  Rhetoric  and  Literary  Criticism ; 
Johnson's  Treatise  on  Language  ;  Mill's  Rhetoric. 

VI.  Logic. 

Hedge's  Logic  ;  Mill's  do. ;  Whateley's  do. 

VII.  Sacred  Rhetoric,  or  Pulpit  Eloquence. 

Maury  on  Eloquence ;  Porter's  Lectures ;  Blair's 
Lectures ;  Campbell's  Lectures ;  Russell's  Pulpit 
Elocution  ;  Caldwell's  Manual  of  Elocution. 

Vm.  Philosophy  of  the  Mind. 

Upham's  Mental  Philosophy  ;  Abercrombie's  do. ; 
Reid's  do.  ;  Stewart's  do. ;  Brown's  do. ;  Locke's 
Conduct  of  the  Understanding. 

IX.  The  Will. 

Reid  on  the  Will ;  Tappan  do.  ;  Upham  do. 

X.  Moral  Philosophy. 

Wayland's  Moral  Science  ;  Dymond's  Essays  ;  Pa- 
ley's  Moral  Philosophy  ;  Abercrombie's  do. 

XI.  General  History. 

Tytler's  Universal  History ; .  Alison's  Hist.  01 
Europe  ;  Hallam's  Middle  Ages  ;  Bancroft's  Hist, 
of  the  United  States. 

XII.  General  Literature. 

Montgomery's  Lee.  on  Lit.,  Poetry,  &c. ;  Hallam's 
Int.  to  the  Lit.  of  Europe  ;  Alison's  Essays  ;  Cham- 
ber's Cyclopedia  of  Ensf.  Lit.  ;  Sismondi's  Lit.  of 
South  Europe  ;  Anthon's  Classical  Diet. ;  Griswold'f 
American  Literature. 


320  APPENDIX. 

Xlir.  History  of  Philosophy. 

Henry's  Epitome  of  Hist.  Phil.  ;  Stewart's  Disser- 
tations on  the  Progress  of  Metaphysical  Science. 

XIV.  History  of  the  Arts. 

Brande's  Cyclopedia  of  Science  and  Art  ;  Lossing'i 
Hist,  of  the  Fine  Arts ;  Hazen's  Popular  Tecft- 
nology  ;  Bigelow  on  the  Useful  Arts. 

XV.  Natural  Science. 

Physical  Condition  of  the  Earth,  (Harper's,  1845;) 
Mudie's  Guide  to  the  Observation  of  Na'ure,  (ib.  :) 
Sacred  Philosophy  of  the  Seasons ;  Brougham's 
Pleasures  and  Advantages  of  Science ;  Potter's 
Science  applied  to  the  Domes'ic  Arts,  &c.  ;  Gris- 
coin's  Animal  Mechanism  and  Physiology  ;  Architec- 
ture, &c.,  of  Birds  ;  Natural  Hist,  of  Insects ; 
Philosophy  of  Nat.  Hist.,  Smellie. 

XVI.  General  Education. 

American  Education  ;  Dick  on  Improvement  of  So- 
cie'y ;  Pursuit  of  Knowledge  under  Difficulties ; 
Potter  and  Emerson's  School  and  Schoolmaster. 

XVTI.  Medical     Science — Mental    and     Religious 

Bearings. 

Ticknor's  Philosophy  of  Living  ;  Upham's  Disordered 
Mental  Action  ;  Paley's  Natural  Theology. 

XVHI.  Political  Economy. 

Potter's  Political  Economy  ;  Wayland's  Pol.  Econ. ; 
Bayard's  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

XIX.  Statistical,  frc. 

M'  Culloch's  Universal  Gazetteer ,  Encyclopedia  of 
Religious    Knowledge ;     Biographical    Dictionary 
Rupp's  Hist,  of  Relig.  Denominations  in  U.  S. 


THE    END. 


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